The 5G leapfrog to 6G: New technology needs a 'whole-of-govt' ecosystem

Digital changes are now a big deal in India, where a lot of the country's government-to-citizen services as well as a vast swathe of the payments business ride on technology platforms

Within a few days the Union cabinet will give the go-ahead for 5G auctions. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has last week made clear that the government will support the roll-out of 5G as an “important step toward self-reliance in critical and modern technology”, the timelines are going to hold.

Given that, it is important now that the telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the group of secretaries, the Digital Communications Commission (DDC) and the Union cabinet get the prices and the range of airwaves offered to the industry just right. India cannot transition to a position like, say