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Tag: 5G

  • OPPO A59 5G unveiled: redefining connectivity with 5G for All

    OPPO A59 5G unveiled: redefining connectivity with 5G for All

    Mumbai: OPPO, the global smart devices brand, has launched the OPPO A59 5G, the most affordable 5G smartphone. The device, starting at Rs 14,999, will be available from 25 December 2023, at the OPPO store, Flipkart, Amazon, and other retail outlets. The OPPO A59 5G offers a choice between two variants- 4GB and 6GB RAM and is available in Silk Gold and Starry Black colour options.

    OPPO A59 5G has a luminous Silk-textured design and a 90Hz sunlight Screen. It is powered by a 33W SUPERVOOC™ flash charging system paired with a massive 5,000mAh battery that ensures smooth and lag-free functionality throughout the day. The OPPO A59 5G is also equipped with features like 36-Month Fluency Protection and 300 per cent Ultra Volume Mode, which is the first of its kind in the A series under this price segment.  

    Design and Display

    The OPPO A59 5G features a Slim Body design that makes the phone sleek and comfortable to hold and adds an elegant premium touch to the device. The 90Hz Sunlight Screen with an impressive 720 nit’s brightness takes the visual experience to the next level. The 96 per cent NTSC high colour gamut ensures fluent experience when using social media platforms like Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook.

    Massive Battery and Flash Charging  

    OPPO A59 5G features a 33W SUPERVOOC™ flash charging and a robust 5,000mAh large Battery. The all-day charging Protection, powered by AI, adapts to users’ charging patterns by developing a segmented charging plan for the day. It intelligently pauses charging at 80 per cent resumes when needed, and prevents battery degradation. The Enhanced Night Charging Mode caters to users concerned about battery life as it automatically adjusts charging based on usage predictions. Additionally, the device also features the Superpower Saving Mode and Ultimate Standby at night mode.

    Performance, Fluency and Endurance

    OPPO A59’s 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM provides users with ample storage and smooth multitasking capabilities. The large RAM expansion feature allows for flexible adjustments up to 6GB, optimising performance as needed. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6020 chipset, the device integrates a 5G modem into a low power 7nm chip. The 2+6 CPU architecture at a maximum frequency of 2.2GHz ensures efficient energy consumption during light loads. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, 36-month fluency protection, and OPPO’s independently developed ColorOS dynamic computing engine guarantee a fluid experience.  

    Moreover, the phone has an IP54 dustproof and waterproof rating, meeting industry standards for daily splash-proof protection. Rigorous quality testing ensures durability and reliability in various conditions, including drop tests, USB plug-unplug tests, and high-temperature/humidity tests. The incredible 300 per cent ultra-volume mode enhances audio capabilities, marking a milestone in the OPPO A series at this price range.  

    Camera Capabilities

    OPPO A59 5G sports a powerful camera setup, including a 13MP main camera, a 2MP bokeh camera, and an 8MP selfie camera.  

    It delivers versatile, high-quality shots and excels in photography with advanced camera features. The ultra-night mode ensures clear night photos with vivid coloring, utilizing composite multi-frame noise reduction and HDR for enhanced clarity in low light. The Portrait Bokeh feature enhances portrait photography with depth detection and customizable effects.  

    Customers can avail the following offers on the purchase of OPPO A59 5G:  

    ·   Customers can avail a cashback of up to Rs 1,500 and no-cost EMI for up to 6 months from SBI Cards, IDFC First Bank, Bank of Baroda credit card, AU Finance Bank and One Card from mainline retail outlets and the OPPO Store

    ·  Attractive EMI payments option available starting from just Rs 1,699 through leading financiers

    ·   As part of My OPPO Exclusive, customers stand a chance to win assured gifts on purchase of OPPO A59 5G

    Additionally, as a part of the new year bonanza smart savings offer- OPPO has introduced discounts and offers on purchase of selected A series products. Customers can avail cashback of up to 10 per cent, no-cost EMI for up to 6 months, along with zero down payments option on selected partners.

     

  • Axis My India releases India Consumer Sentiment Index

    Axis My India releases India Consumer Sentiment Index

    Mumbai: The leading consumer data intelligence company, Axis My India, has released its latest findings of the India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI). It is a monthly analysis of consumer perceptions on a wide range of issues.

    The report from the month of November highlights that 61 per cent engages with the internet daily and 23 per cent use it for ‘chatting’ through WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, etc.

    The report finds that 52 per cent of respondents are aware of the recently launched 5G technology, and 24 per cent of them intend to switch to 5G phones.

    The sentiment analysis delves into five relevant sub-indices: overall household spending, spending on essential and non-essential items, spending on healthcare, media consumption habits, and mobility trends.

    The research also shows that 21 per cent of households have increased their media consumption (TV, Internet, radio, etc.), a rise of two per cent from the previous month. 55 per cent intend to watch the T20 World Cup; 69 per cent of them will prefer to watch it on television; 28 per cent will watch it on their phones.

    The survey was carried out via computer-assisted telephonic interviews with a sample size of 10,207 people across 32 states and UTs. 70 per cent belonged to rural India, while 30 per cent belonged to urban counterparts. In terms of regional spread, 26 per cent belong to the northern parts, while 24 per cent belong to the eastern parts of India. Moreover, 30 per cent and 20 per cent belonged to the western and southern parts of India, respectively. 56 per cent of the respondents were male, while 44 per cent were female. In terms of the two majority sample groups, 28 per cent each reflect the age groups of 26 to 35 and 36 to 50.

    Commenting on the CSI report findings, Axis My India chairman and managing director Pradeep Gupta said, “The growing dependency on the internet has impacted all spheres of the consumer’s life. From chatting to networking, expressing, and now watching, the internet has evolved to fulfil all consumer needs and will continue to do so in the future with the advent of 5G. While the dependency on online apps for grocery purchases is still at a nascent stage, we are more than confident that, like any other daily task, this too will become completely an online behaviour in the next few years. From adapting newer modes of media consumption like watching the World Cup on a phone to having varied other forms of empowered user experiences on the internet, 5G will only continue to shape consumer consumption behaviour”

    Further, the report also highlights that spending on essentials like personal care and household items has increased for 46 per cent of the families, which is an increase of two per cent from last month. The net score, which was at +25 last month, has increased by +2 to +27 this month. Spending on non-essential and discretionary products like an AC, car, and refrigerator has increased for 11 per cent of families, which reflects an increase of two per cent from last month and the highest increase in the last five months. The net score, which was at +3 last month, has improved to +4 this month, showcasing a steady upliftment in spending sentiment.

    Expenses for health-related items such as vitamins, tests, and healthy food have surged for 39 per cent of the families. This reflects an increase in consumption of two per cent from last month. The health score, which has a negative connotation, i.e., the less one spends on health items, the better the sentiment, and has a net score value of -23, which is the same as last month.

  • GUEST ARTICLE: Top trends shaping the gaming industry

    GUEST ARTICLE: Top trends shaping the gaming industry

    Mumbai: Today’s gamers are accustomed to exploring realism-based 3D environments and interacting with hundreds or thousands of other players in real-time, a far cry from the blocky, unsophisticated sprites that many of us played as children. The infrastructure set up by game creators to make this possible is based on some of the most cutting-edge technology, including super-fast 5G and cloud networking, as well as powerful processors.

    Some major trends in the gaming industry are: 

    1. Cloud gaming

    The majority of the major video game developers now offer their titles through cloud-based subscription services. As long as gamers have smart TVs and small streaming devices, they won’t need to keep purchasing and upgrading pricey, power-hungry hardware and keeping it in their homes. The cloud data centre serves as the hub for everything, and streaming video is the result that is delivered to households.

    Furthermore, the continued adoption of lightning-fast networks like 5G will lead to a time when more people than ever will be able to access this new method of game delivery. All things considered, even though it’s not a given that specialised home gaming systems will vanish from our lives, 2022 is a year when business leaders will increase their investments in their vision of a streaming, cloud-based future.

    2. Virtual reality

    Over the previous five years, VR gaming has rapidly grown in popularity. One of the most thrilling gaming experiences of the coming year is anticipated to be provided by VR. Consumer headsets are becoming more and more accessible because of the declining cost of hardware. Additionally, they benefit from being able to operate both alone and when linked to a gaming PC to take advantage of the latter’s specialised skills to offer even more realistic and visually sophisticated VR experiences. Cloud VR may become a reality soon, further shrinking the size of headsets.

    3. The metaverse

    Millions of gamers now assemble in virtual worlds to participate in every sort of entertainment, and this concept of in-game worlds expanding to include various forms of entertainment will surely have a significant impact on the gaming business and culture in 2022. The largest franchises and games will increasingly reinvent themselves as “platforms,” enabling a considerably wider variety of user experiences. Others will find space in these worlds to participate in networking, conversing, or other sorts of shared interaction.

    The benefit of retaining users on their platforms will be seen by game developers, who can do this by increasing their loyalty as subscribers or by turning them into a captive audience for advertisers of all stripes. 

    4. NFTs and blockchain

    In a rather contentious move, a number of major game developers announced plans to incorporate non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as a mechanism for players to win, earn, and trade exclusive in-game items. Some of these initiatives may start to materialise in 2022.

    Not all gamers are on board with the concept, especially because many believe that these tokens are a waste of energy. This is because the complex blockchain algorithms required to run them require a lot of processing power. However, it’s likely to become a reality because game publishers have stated that they believe the convergence of gaming and NFTs has a bright future and that they are willing to pay money to accomplish it.

    The proliferation of ‘play-to-earn’ games that give players cryptocurrency rewards for participating in regular play is another emerging trend.

    5. Esports

    Esports mostly refers to the evolution of video games to incorporate elements more frequently found in professional sports, such as live audiences, tournaments, leagues, sponsorships, and paid athletes. Esports will be included in a significant international multi-sport competition for the first time at the 2022 Asian Games, where they will make their official debut as a competition. Esports experienced a boom in popularity during the covid pandemic, as it did with many other forms of digital entertainment. In 2021, it earned over one billion dollars in revenue for the first time, primarily from media rights and sponsorship, and it is anticipated that it will reach nearly $2 billion in revenue by 2022.

    Furthermore, 73 million viewers watched the League of Legends World Championship final in 2021, a 60 per cent increase over 2020, and it is anticipated that this record will once again be broken in 2022. This proves that video games have indeed developed into spectator sports, and over the upcoming year, we should expect to see both an increase in the number of professional players and a rise in prize money.

    The author of this article is Glued founder Vikram Narula.

  • GUEST ARTICLE: Impact of 5G in marketing and communication

    GUEST ARTICLE: Impact of 5G in marketing and communication

    Mumbai: While the 5G discourse has been mainly centred on autonomous vehicles and telecom capabilities, the truth is that there is more to this emerging technology than simply enhancing our mobile connectivity. To elaborate, 5G will accelerate technological innovation by enabling AI and machine learning (ML) at the edge, bringing with it unprecedented new enterprises and technological capabilities. According to the report, 1.4 billion devices will be connected to 5G by 2025, opening up a world of possibilities for explosive data. As new devices and technologies are created across industries, what used to take years or months to reach the market will now be accomplished at breakneck speed.

    5G network design and connectivity are rapidly becoming more widely available. It can benefit from the rising availability of this service in a variety of ways, including marketing and communications. The faster the customers and prospects can connect to and navigate the network, the happier they’ll be. 5G ensures that more people can connect to and utilise your network or website more quickly and consistently, even when traffic levels are higher than usual.

    So, what does this all ultimately mean for marketing and communication?

    Because many industries are expected to be impacted, marketing and communications professionals must be ready to develop their messaging and properly explain the results of 5G to key influencers and stakeholders. Here’s how it works:

    5G will help in enhancing experiential marketing

    The promise of 5G — from high-power edge computing to lightning-fast speed — is an opportunity for both consumers and companies. Communication can help brands to position themselves in the community as visionaries, discussing trends and projections while emphasising the growth of their business and generating interest and enthusiasm about the beneficial effects of brands in the community through 5G. Marketing will also assist in allowing the consumer to personally experience the brand or product and obtain brand rewards through 5G. Experiential marketing has always been known for highlighting a brand’s physical presence. With 5G, brands can use artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) approaches to communicate with those who are still striving to reach consumers faster.

    5G technology opens up AR and VR

    Online interactions will increasingly revolve around immersive experiences, and 5G will make this transition more seamless. Virtual reality experiences can take the role of video in marketing by immersing the client in the experience rather than simply showing them what is available. For example, you could allow a customer to enter the store where they want to buy something; allow them to try on hundreds of different items of clothing without entering a changing room; or even allow them to dine with their favourite celebrity.

    Personalization

    Data collection is probably going to get much better under 5G. Discovering your customer might take less time. From this, marketing and communication will be able to help brands know how they can connect with their target audience and consumers faster. Due to such fast connectivity, they can also help brands connect with the media. Such technology will also help marketing by making brands more personalised and immersive experiences for their consumers.

    Marketing and communication will become more interactive

    With 5G’s high-speed capabilities, communication may become more appealing in addition to being more prevalent in the media. Marketing will become more interactive, which was previously thought to be impossible. However, 5G may make this tactic more feasible for marketing professionals. It will become more digital and immersive in the future.

    5G signifies that more individuals can connect to and use the companies’ experiences or goods more swiftly and reliably. The future of marketing and communication will help brands connect with customers and prospects faster and more passively, boosting the brand’s image and awareness with the aforementioned points.

    The author of this article is Scenic Communication co-founder Anindita Gupta.

  • PM Modi launches 5G services in India

    PM Modi launches 5G services in India

    Mumbai: On Saturday, prime minister Narendra Modi launched 5G services in India at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi.

    At the launch, while addressing the nation, Modi said that 5G technology will revolutionise the telecom sector and that it is a historic day for India in the twenty-first century. “The launch of 5G is a gift from the telecom industry to 130 crore Indians. It is a step toward a new era in the country, and is the beginning of infinite opportunities.”

    He emphasised how digital India’s success is based on four pillars, including the cost of a device, digital connectivity, data costs, and the digital first approach.

    Over the next few years, the services will gradually expand to cover the entire country. The fifth generation (5G) service, capable of supporting ultra-high-speed internet, is expected to open up new economic opportunities and societal benefits, serving as a transformative force in Indian society.

    Also read: Reliance Jio to roll out 5G services in major cities by Diwali

    “Earlier, the cost of one GB of data was about Rs 300. It has come down to about Rs 10 per GB now. On average, a person in India consumes 14 GB per month. This would have cost about Rs 4,200 per month but costs Rs 125-150. It’s the efforts of the government that led to this,” he added.

    Speaking further, Modi said, “With developments in technology and telecom, India will lead the industry’s 4.0 revolution. This is not the decade of India, but the century of India.”

    At the event, Modi was accompanied by telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, junior telecom minister Devusinh Chauhan, and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Bharti Enterprises founder & chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Manglam Birla.

    After officially opening the show, Modi visited pavilions set up by several telecom carriers and technology providers to get a first-hand look at what 5G is capable of. He began at the Reliance Jio booths.

    Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani thanked the prime minister for inspiring the vision of a developed nation by 2047. “Every action and policy of the government is skillfully crafted to propel India towards that goal. Steps taken to fast-track India’s march into the 5G era provide compelling proof of our prime minister’s determination.”

    He narrated the possibilities of 5G in key areas like education, education, and climate change, etc. “Your leadership has raised India’s prestige, profile, and power globally like never before. In today’s fast-changing world, there will be no stopping a resurgent India from soaring to the top,” Ambani concluded.

    Bharti Enterprise chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal remarked that the launch of 5G is the beginning of a new era and since it is happening during “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” it makes it even more special. “With the efforts of the prime minister, this will usher in new energy in the country. We are fortunate to have a leader in the prime minister who understands technology very well and has deployed it to the development of the country in an unmatched manner,” he noted.

    Mittal further said that it will open up a sea of opportunities for people, especially in our rural areas. He recalled the PM’s initiatives in the fields of infrastructure and technology from his Gujarat CM days. He said that during the pandemic, traffic shifted to villages and homes and the country’s heartbeat did not stop even for a second. Credit for that goes to the digital vision. He also praised the audacity and achievement of the vision of “Make in India.” “Along with “Digital India,” the prime minister also took forward the “Start-up India” campaign and, soon enough, India started producing unicorns,” Shri Mittal added. “With the advent of 5G, I’m sure that the country will add many more unicorns to the world.”

    Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla called the advent of 5G a transformational event that proves India’s prowess on the global stage and reiterates the role of telecom technology as the bedrock of India’s growth. He thanked Modi for his vision and leadership for a generational leap in technology that has resulted in India’s making a mark on the global stage. He also thanked the PM for his inspirational role in supporting the telecom industry during the ongoing pandemic and for the path-breaking telecom reforms in the industry.

    Birla said that the launch of 5G marks the beginning of an exciting journey for India. “We will see limitless potential for 5G development and use cases in the years to come,” he added.

    Reliance Jio connected a teacher from a school in Mumbai with students in three different locations in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Odisha.

    The Vodafone Idea test case demonstrated the safety of workers in an under-construction tunnel of the Delhi Metro through the creation of a ‘Digital-Twin’ of the tunnel on the dias.

    In the Airtel demo, students from Dankaur, Uttar Pradesh, witnessed a lively and immersive educational experience to learn about the solar system with the help of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

  • Prasar Bharti collaborates with IIT Kanpur for direct-to-mobile broadcasting project

    Prasar Bharti collaborates with IIT Kanpur for direct-to-mobile broadcasting project

    Mumbai: Today, there is a shift in viewing habits from linear television to OTT and from theatres to OTT. The rise in content creation is leading to more and more jobs for people. With the arrival of 5G, there is the possibility of direct-to-mobile broadcasting. In a collaboration, Prasar Bharti and IIT Kanpur have come up with a proof of concept whereby, with a small attachment, there can be a direct-to-mobile broadcast. So, without purchasing data, there can be 100-200 channels streamed direct to mobile.

    Speaking at Ficci Frames Fasttrack 2022, I&B secretary Apurva Chandra said, “Without data and high-quality internet, users will be able to see high-resolution movies and listen to digital radio on their mobile phones. This change is coming. It will happen.”

    He also announced that a report on the creation of an AVGC task force will be submitted soon. He noted that there were reports on skills, gaming, education, incentives, and other policy aspects within the task force. They are all being combined and will be submitted to the authorities. He added that the report will be adopted during the course of the year.

    “AVGC is the future of this country. The best Hollywood films are being created in Bangalore and other places. AVGC will be the next great revolution like IT was 30 years ago,” he stated. Furthermore, he mentioned changing the cinematography act to include anti-piracy provisions. Also, there will be an age classification within the U/A category. The aim is to bring in amendments to the Act and put it before Parliament during the winter session.

    He further added that the AVGC centre of excellence, which has not seen the light of day over the past six years, aims to do this only in collaboration with the private sector. An in-principle decision has been taken in this regard. A total of 26 per cent of the task force will be owned by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), 48 per cent by the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), and 26 per cent by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Ficci).

    He also said that the media and entertainment industries should target a combined size of $100 billion by 2030. He noted that during National Cinema Day, theatres were full even in the morning. That, he said, shows that you can get people to view movies in theatres as long as the ticket pricing is right. National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) will be the cinematic arm of the I&B ministry. The four film units will be merged into one. The film facilitation office will be revamped, he concluded.

  • GUEST ARTICLE: What are the advantages of the advertising industry with the new 5G technology

    GUEST ARTICLE: What are the advantages of the advertising industry with the new 5G technology

    Mumbai: In the recently ended spectrum sale, India auctioned 51,236 MHz of spectrum to incumbent operators for Rs 1,50,173 crore across several 5G networks. This implies a speedier experience for customers, with mobile devices interacting with wireless networks significantly faster and users seeing enhanced download and upload speeds. According to a Deloitte analysis, India’s digital economy is expected to reach one trillion dollars by 2025 as a result of growing smartphone use, fast internet penetration, and the acceleration of mobile broadband and data connectivity. However, 5G is expected to be the primary driver of this expansion.

    5G, like the radio, the internet, and other disruptive technologies before it, will allow advertisers to better engage customers by sending enormous amounts of data at speeds significantly quicker than current 4G technologies allow. Although 78 per cent believe 5G technology will be superior to 4G, 95 per cent are unaware of which 4G features are currently available on their devices. More than 70 per cent are prepared to pay for new technologies (with payment used as a proxy for perceived value). Faster downloads are significant for 71 per cent of 5G users. Respondents do not grasp the phrases “connectivity,” “capacity,” and “latency” and place a low value on these benefits. Here are the advantages for the advertising industry with the new 5G technology:

        Making your creatives suitable for 5G users.

    5G users interact with gadgets in a unique way, which can assist in personalising advertisements to what they’re most interested in. 5G has several concrete benefits, such as downloading a two-hour HD movie in roughly 18 minutes, live streaming a concert or live event to friends or family in HD, and low-latency gaming with 30-50 millisecond ping. However, tailoring your ads to fit consumers’ preferences is extremely critical for 5G over 4G. Users that have a strong interest in gaming, entertainment, and live streaming are more likely (92 per cent) to pay for 5G technology and purchase a 5G enabled phone early on, compared to the overall average (81 per cent). With all of the new 5G updates, there is also a huge opportunity to get creative with brand advertisements and innovate with new benefits.

        5G technology unlocks AR/VR advertising

    Because of 5G’s low latency and rapid download rates, advertisers and publishers will have more options to build new streaming media formats with better capabilities. As customers spend more time on 5G phones, they want new experiences to justify the higher cost. Therefore, advertising must capitalise on this. AR and VR have several applications. Over the next year, it is predicted that 100 million consumers will utilise augmented reality for purchasing. Creating increasingly meaningful, immersive experiences is the future of online engagement, and 5G will usher in those capabilities more naturally.

        Analytics will go real-time

    Already, a fraction of the data we can handle and analyse is considered real-time data. 5G will enable the integration of a broader variety of activities and impressions in real time. If a consumer makes a purchase in the future, they may no longer get any advertising connected to that product or product category. Fundamentally, this will improve targeting, segmentation, customer experience, and customer journey, as well as brand and consumer efficiencies.

        Serve advertisements that leverage 5G advantages

    Users may interact with adverts in novel ways thanks to the ability of 5G for advertisers to create more creative and original immersive content. Real, realistic on-device advertising experiences may be made possible in various ways with minimal latency. Advertisers may display full-screen commercials that let viewers see how a character or product appears in various settings that they can design and modify right from the creative. Additionally, brands may employ VR to present a 360-degree image of the gaming or social environment. Greater capacity also allows for the production of advertisements in a wide variety of audio and video formats. 5G technology has a tonne of unrealized potential, so businesses should be committed to coming up with fresh approaches to interacting with consumers through advertising.

    As with previous technological breakthroughs, advertisers will need to have their fingers on the pulse in order to fully capitalise on the new opportunities presented by 5G and avoid falling behind. Fundamentally, it’s fantastic for innovation that our most imaginative ideas may now confront fewer technological constraints. However, adapting our strategy to the new digital context will be a problem.

    The author of this article is Hotstuff Medialabs founder and CEO Arun Fernandes.

  • Ericsson is ready to power India into the 5G future: VP marketing & communications Ruchika Batra

    Ericsson is ready to power India into the 5G future: VP marketing & communications Ruchika Batra

    Mumbai: With 5G set to take flight in India, telecom companies are gearing up to be the first in the 5G race. The country’s first auction of the 5G spectrum concluded early last month, with service providers Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Adani Data Networks paying the department of telecom (DoT) a total of about Rs 17,876 crore for the spectrum they acquired. With this spectrum allotment, India is in the final stage of rolling out high-speed 5G telecom services.

    Ericsson India recently unveiled its new brand campaign “Imagine Possible” that sets out to show the limitless possibilities of increased connectivity with 5G for Indian industries, people, and communities. In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Ericsson VP-marketing and communications Ruchika Batra talks about the campaign objective, the significance of the Indian market for the brand and how ready the Indian consumer is to welcome the 5G network.

    India has been a strategic market for Ericsson and the leading provider of telecom network equipment has been partnering with the country through generations of mobility—2G, 3G, and 4G—even as it now sets the stage for the 5G rollout.

    The fifth generation of mobile networks or 5G, as it is referred to, is currently the fastest communication network available in the world, as it gradually makes its way to every part of the globe. It opens up a whole new world of entertainment and applications, enabling users to download full-length movies in a matter of seconds and take advantage of more advanced linked technologies like gaming with augmented reality.

    Ericsson’s global campaign – India chapter

    Elaborating on the objective of launching the India chapter of this global campaign, Batra says that “Imagine Possible” brings to life the company’s purpose and vision in the Indian context. “The objective of the campaign is all about showcasing the limitless possibilities that 5G will bring to Indian enterprises, people, and communities. It emphasises the transformational role that 5G can play in creating a more digitally inclusive society in India through relevant use-cases across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, education, and entertainment.” With 5G, the possibilities are endless and the campaign depicts the same, she adds.

    It highlights the potential of 5G through five scenarios: a schoolgirl taking remote lessons from a rural homestead; fans enjoying an extended reality cricket experience; a mountain medic wearing an AR headset allowing him to see the diagnosis from surgeons back in the hospital whilst attending patients at a remote location; a farmer enjoying the benefits of connected digital financial services in a rural setting; and drone operations with 5G powered smart factories.

    Ericsson’s significant achievements in the Indian 5G market

    According to Batra, Ericsson has viewed India as a strategic market since 1903. It became one of the first companies to manufacture telecom equipment for domestic players as well as export it to other parts of the world. So, when Batra was asked about the 5G readiness in the country, she said, “Our Ericsson radio solutions introduced in India in 2015 are 5G ready and we are well prepared to support Indian service providers in their journey from 4G to 5G. We have been working with our operator partners, enterprises, as well as the academic community to test and curate various 5G use cases that would be relevant for the country with the trial spectrum that was made available.”

    Post the recently concluded 5G spectrum auctions in the country, Bharti Airtel awarded its first 5G contract in the country to Ericsson. Some of the recent 5G milestones that Ericsson has achieved include partnering with Bharti Airtel to demonstrate India’s first 5G live network in Hyderabad and trials in Gurugram and Manesar. This was followed by a demonstration of India’s first 5G rural trial in Bhaipur Bramanan village on the outskirts of Delhi/NCR. Ericsson also partnered with Vodafone Idea (VIL) to showcase the power of 5G to bring healthcare to remote parts of the country.

    “At our end, Ericsson is ready to power India into the 5G future. In fact, our radio system hardware has been 5G-ready since 2015 enabling operators to upgrade to 5G with a remote software installation,” asserts Batra.

    Influence of 5G on consumers and enterprises in India

    With 5G services to be rolled out in India shortly, India’s top telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are firming up plans to tap into the emerging gaming and e-sports segment that is expected to see strong growth and investments amid faster speeds and low latency. The next phase of growth for gaming is expected to be driven by the accelerating adoption of 5G, cloud gaming, gamification, and mobile gaming devices, among others. For instance, 4K video on a smartphone, AR/VR and mobile gaming applications benefit from 5G capabilities such as ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability for an enhanced user experience.

    According to Batra, some of the use cases that consumers will see with 5G are cloud gaming, live sports and enhanced video content, with 5G enabled sports being the top predicted revenue drivers. A spectator will get an even more immersive experience using 5G-enabled stadiums, 5G network slicing, 5G enabled cameras and virtual transmission centres, she adds.

    The need for low latency will be even more crucial with AR/VR entering the market for consumers to have a captivating experience, and 5G will be able to address this quickly, points out the Ericsson marketing and communications head.

    In future, gaming will form a core of major telcos’ business strategy going forward, as they seek to increase average revenue per user (ARPU) by engaging more subscribers and boosting user stickiness, predicts industry experts.

    Will 5G services be welcome with premium prices?

    Batra is categorical about Indian consumers’ willingness to pay more for value-added premium services. “There is already quite a lot of enthusiasm amongst Indian consumers for 5G and they are willing to pay a premium for the capabilities it brings,” she asserts.

    According to Ericsson’s ConsumerLab study, at least 40 million smartphone users in India are expected to take up 5G in the first year of it becoming available, she points out. “In fact, they are also willing to pay 50 per cent more for 5G plans that include bundled digital services, compared to just 10 per cent more for 5G connectivity.”

    The latest Mobility Report from Ericsson predicts that by 2027, nearly 40 per cent of all mobile subscriptions in India will be on 5G, which is a whopping 500 million subscribers. This adoption will be driven by significant investment by mobile operators, who are expected to dedicate a huge part of their capital expenditure on building 5G infrastructure, estimates the report.

  • Trai seeks views on Big Data & AI adoption to improve telecom services in future

    Trai seeks views on Big Data & AI adoption to improve telecom services in future

    Mumbai: The 5G spectrum auction that happened recently is a big step towards the launch of new internet and telecom experience in India. 5G will take India’s telecom services to the next level and bring it at par with countries like China, the US, and South Korea.

    A step towards fueling future innovation, the government is now trying to leverage & integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and big data (BD) in the telecommunication sector as both are inherently synergistic. To make this possible, The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has released a consultation paper on “Leveraging AI and BD in the telecommunication sector.” The regulatory body has asked its stakeholders to submit any consent and issues regarding the consultation paper by 16 September & 30 September will be the last date for counter comments.

    5G would bring advancement in the media & entertainment industry as the consumers soon be able to access faster internet speed and services. It will enable faster download speeds, lower latency (the response time to transfer computer information), greater flexibility and ability to support more devices.

    Through the 5G auction, a total of 51.2 GHz spectrum was sold and 71 percent of total spectrum was put up for sale. It helped the government to earn a record Rs 1.5 lakh crore recently.

    Further, the telecom regulator, in its consultation paper, sought opinions on areas where the telecom networks’ present and future capabilities could be used to leverage AI and BD. The paper also presented examples of AI and BD already deployed in telecom networks by the operators in India & other jurisdictions.

    Leveraging AI and BD in 6G era

    The regulator also looked at developments happening in the 6G and possibilities emerging in the 6G era to leverage AI and BD in the telecom sector as well as other sectors where telecom can play an important and crucial role.

    The consultation paper followed the department of telecom’s referral to Trai in June 2019, in which the department requested a recommendation on leveraging AI and BD in a synchronised and effective manner to improve the overall quality of service, spectrum management, network security, and reliability.

    The paper stated, “It has been noted that 5G and beyond networks will provide a plethora of data that may be useful for telecom as well as other sectors. Edge computing in the 5G era may offer opportunities to other sectors to train and validate their AI models in the telecom networks.”

    “In 5G and beyond, networks may also offer privacy-preserving architectures to adopt and accelerate AI and BD in other sectors,” the paper added.

    The paper covered risks associated with the adoption of AI and BD, such as unethical use, bias in data and algorithms, model instability, regulatory and legal noncompliance, and risk mitigation methods and mechanisms. Further, there is a risk of privacy among users, which includes data exploitation, the risk of identification and tracking, and individual profiling.

    It also further stated, “If privacy concerns are not addressed and trust is not instilled among the users, then it may become one of the biggest concerns in the adoption of AI.”

    The paper’s focus was on privacy concerns and their impact on developing intelligent solutions. The paper identified and presented various solutions and initiatives that may be taken to address the risks and concerns. It also suggested ways to overcome these constraints for faster adoption of AI.

    Trai mentioned in its paper that they also noted the latest developments in the field of AI, which may be useful in multi-domain, multi-vendor, and multi-AI model environments.

  • GUEST ARTICLE: 5G and IoT-The beginning of a new era

    GUEST ARTICLE: 5G and IoT-The beginning of a new era

    Mumbai: Meta Description: The integrated ecosystem of 5G and IoT (internet of things) has the potential to revolutionise business fortunes if these new technologies are coupled in a synergistic manner.

    What do the numbers say about 5G and IoT integration?

    Take a look at the data below to see the great potential that 5G technology integration in IoT devices offers:

    • According to Cisco, in the near future, 500 billion IoT devices will be integrated with 5G technology. This figure comprises, among other things, sensors, actuators, scanners, and medical devices.

    • Ericsson AB, another reputable brand in the IT business, forecasts that by the end of 2022, 550 million 5G customers will be part of the current iteration of mobile broadband. According to the analysis, 5G integration in IoT devices will see an unparalleled hike in the next few years.

    • Asia Pacific will become the 5G network’s second-fastest expanding hub, accounting for around 10 per cent of worldwide customers. This change in the customer segment will spread to the industrial sector, catalysing the use of 5G in IoT devices.

    What exactly are IoT and 5G technologies?

    The potential of 5G technology and its ramifications for IoT devices have piqued the imagination of information technology professionals. Given the projected increase in the number of IoT devices from 16.4 billion to 30.9 billion units by 2025, the growth of 5G technology is essential for flawless communication among these vast numbers of devices.

    The fifth-generation network, or 5G technology, is the next version of the broadband cellular network. It can provide larger bandwidths and data speeds of up to 20 gigabytes per second (20 Gbps). The 5G network, when combined with IoT devices, has the potential to revolutionise the faces of many organisations across industries. Healthcare, transportation, energy and power, and education are just a few of the industries that stand to benefit greatly from the combination of 5G and IoT devices.

    Data aggregation and information extraction from IoT devices

    IoT devices are critical for gathering, aggregating, and analysing data from a wide range of sources. This data is subsequently analysed, resulting in the extraction of actionable information that may be used to make critical organisational strategic and tactical decisions.

    Consider the application of IoT devices in the healthcare industry. Today, IoT devices record a wide range of customer data at hospitals, health centres, infirmaries, and other facilities. The acquired data is then used to extract information about patients’ various health factors, such as age, gender, health concerns, and so on. As a result, this data is used by a variety of stakeholders, including doctors, patients, pharmaceutical companies, and medication marketers, to develop policy frameworks, action plans, and market strategies.

    IoT and 5G: complementary forces

    All data collection and aggregation can now be done more efficiently if IoT devices are seamlessly connected with one another, which is where the importance of a fast and reliable 5G network comes into play. Because of the 5G network’s high-speed data transfer, IoT devices can work significantly more efficiently than they can with 4G networks. To summarise, for IoT devices to reach their full potential, a fully matured and evolved 5G network is required.

    In terms of benefits, 5G technology and IoT devices have the potential to transform the fortunes of numerous companies. The following are some concrete highlights that demonstrate the great potential that integrating these technologies can provide businesses:

    1) 5G technology has made a name for itself due to its unique efficiency, speed, and latency characteristics. Furthermore, 5G technology provides superior safety and security, which, when combined with next-generation IoT devices, can enable significant leaps forward in autonomous driving, drone operations, virtual reality, digital finance, and a variety of AI applications in various sectors.

    2) 5G networks will primarily benefit enterprises in the healthcare, education, transportation, supply chain, and manufacturing industries. The adoption of 5G-enabled IoT devices in the healthcare industry is already increasing at an exponential rate. The convergence of 5G and IoT in the education industry will result in a more interactive virtual learning and immersive experience for students. Transportation and logistics will profit from the convergence of these new technologies as well, through the use of real-time tracking, electronic data interchange, and automatic stock replenishment. The manufacturing industry may use the concept of remote access, repair, and maintenance in IoT devices via high-speed internet, which will be truly transformative for the business.

    The need for a comprehensive 5G and IoT ecosystem

    We need to establish an integrated ecosystem of 5G networks and IoT devices to achieve the full potential of 5G and IoT devices. Only with the seamless integration of both of these technologies will industries be able to make huge leaps across the value chain. From raw material procurement to product manufacture, and from sales and marketing to actual client purchasing, we must endeavour to create a comprehensive ecosystem. As a result, businesses across their value chain and participating stakeholders will benefit from synergies.

    The author of the article is Altorum Leren co-founder and CEO Prateek Shukla.