During the seventh edition of the ETTelecom 5G | 6G Congress 2024, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of TRAI, emphasized the potential of the regulatory sandbox to drive innovation and introduce new products within the telecom sector. He highlighted the significance of this policy shift, stating, “a policy has come for regulatory sandbox which is another opportunity for innovation and bringing new products.”
The telecom event, attended by nearly 400 delegates in the national capital, provided a platform for 40 speakers to share insights across various areas, including 5G, network transformation, and next-generation technology advancements.
In line with efforts to streamline testing processes and improve the ease of doing business, Union Telecom and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently introduced a policy for spectrum regulatory sandbox. This initiative aims to facilitate seamless testing of telecom products and solutions, allowing entities like academic institutions to apply for permissions via the Sanchar Saathi Portal.
According to Lahoti, two major telecom operators have fulfilled their nationwide minimum rollout obligations, leading to the deployment of over 420,000 5G base stations across 740 districts in India. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have successfully completed the pan-India rollout of their latest generation mobile networks, collectively attracting over 100 million unique 5G subscribers.
Lahoti emphasized the significant rollout of 5G in India, noting that these networks offer diverse use cases for both consumers and enterprises. He highlighted 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) as a crucial application, particularly for areas where fixed broadband infrastructure is limited. Additionally, Lahoti mentioned the government’s initiatives, including consultations on 5G ecosystem solutions and the establishment of 5G use case labs in 100 academic institutions nationwide, aimed at facilitating faster adoption and effective utilization of this new technology.
