Indian PM Modi inaugurates country’s first 5G testbed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first 5G test platform on Tuesday. This platform will allow enterprises and technology firms to evaluate and certify their technologies domestically and reduce reliance on foreign resources. This test platform was valued at around Rs. 220 crores.

The testbed was launched at TRAI’s (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) Silver Jubilee commemoration. During a speech, the Prime Minister highlighted that the 5G testbed is a crucial component toward self-reliance in pursuing crucial and modern technologies.

“I welcome young people, academics, and businesses to use the testing unit to develop 5G technology,” Modi concluded.

Because there was no 5G testbed in the Country, entrepreneurs and other technology companies had to fly overseas to test and certify their innovations before they could be installed in a 5G network. As a result, the testbed will be deployed at five different sites.

Other Institutions that took part in the research

IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWIT) were among the other institutions which were actively involved in the research.

Inauguration of the Test Bed

The inauguration was held via virtual session following PM Modi’s presentation at a session commemorating the TRAI’s silver jubilee celebrations. The Test Bed would create a supporting platform for the Indian business sector and entrepreneurs, allowing them to reinforce their 5G networks and upcoming advancements, technologies, models, applications, and algorithms.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 constituted TRAI in 1997.