State-owned telecommunication firm BSNL has recently joined forces with Japan’s Softbank and NTT Communication in order to roll out 5G and internet of things (IoT) technology in India. Speaking about the same with news agency PTI, Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and MD of BSNL said, “We have signed agreement with Softbank and NTT Communications to roll out 5G and IoT products and services in India. Under the agreement, we will look at solution specially for the smart cities.”

Shrivastava also said that many of BSNL’s competitors are still looking to monetise their 4G services and thus they have started looking at the state-run firm to launch the 5G services. "We have benefited by lead taken by our minister (Manoj Sinha). He has held various meetings at global level on 5G. We capitalised on those opportunities and signed agreement for the next generation technology," Shrivastava told PTI.

Even the telecom minister Manoj Sinha has said that the launch of 5G services in India will take place at par with other countries. "3G was launch in India after seven years the technology was available in other foreign markets and 4G services after four years lag but 5G will be launched in India in 2020 as soon the standards are freezed by ITU," Shrivastava added further. At the moment, BSNL is working on finalising the test cases where 5G sevices can be used in India. Shrivasta informed that the telecom firm is in advance stages of starting the 5G field trials. The government is in agreement to provide BSNL the 5G spectrum for trials.

According to PTI, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended auction of about 8,644 MHz of telecom frequencies at an estimated base price of Rs 4.9 lakh crore. However, the government is yet to finalise details of allocation of spectrum for 5G services.

With its new partnership with Softbank, BSNL will strengthen its satellite constellation which will as many as 900 satellites to provide high speed internet services on a global level. BSNL has also signed agreement with Noika and Cisco too for building its 5G ecosystem.