It is difficult to walk around the corridors of mobile technologies and not hear about the speculation surrounding 5G! As one of the most anticipated technological developments of this year, 5G represents the future of mobile connectivity. The consumers keenly await the advent of this technology, as validated by an Ericsson study, claiming one in three smartphone users can switch to 5G-enabled devices either immediately or within next 6 months.
While there is a clear demand for faster, more capable telecom network, introducing the technology would require the endpoints to pick up the signal, be it the mm Wave or ‘Sub 6 GHz’. To the same end, some of the leading enterprises are doing the ground work necessary to make India 5G Ready! Let’s take a closer look at the companies ushering us into the future, with 5G-enabled mobile connectivity.
Incumbent Telecoms on 5G trials
While 5G network trials have been one of the most sought-after developments in the country, the Telecom Ministry panel has entrusted the leading telecoms in the country to commence with the trials. To the same end, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Airtel have been recommended to carry out 5G trials for three months, starting from June. The trial period can be extended up to a year, in case more time period is needed for network stabilisation. The trials will be followed by spectrum auctions, which, as per the given timeline may start between September and October.
UNISOC
UNISOC has launched MAKALU, the 5G technology platform, in addition to its first 5G Modem IVY510. With the new launched combined, UNISOC is ready to accelerate the easy access to 5G technology. Furthermore, going by the brand’s legacy of coming up with products that are innovative and easily affordable, one should expect these developments to be available in mid-range devices in the emerging markets.
ASUS
Taiwan-based technology major, ASUS revealed the latest developments in the field of 5G technology at the Prime X299 Edition 30. The latest processor by the brands, amongst various other innovations, feature a built-in 5G Aquantia Ethernet. This is combined with Intel Gigabit LAN and Wi-Fi 6 to ensure high-performance, lag-free wired and wireless networking. The technology will soon wash ashore the Indian peninsula in various offerings by the brand, including cutting-edge laptops and desktop processors.
MediaTek
At the Mobile World Congress, the company introduced the MediaTek Helio M70 modem for 5G. It is also crucial to note that MediaTek is a strong player in the mid-range segment. By the same token, the 5G-ready chips by MediaTek are expected to hit the market in mid-to-high ranging handsets.
