5G LIVE TRIALS IN MTNL NEWORK by VoICE Consortium Players at multiple locations

ESPONSES BY 3 Stakeholders from VoICE implementing Live 5G Trials in Delhi as covered in Telecom Economic Times on 19.09.2024

https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/homegrown-companies-start-live-5g-trials-in-bsnl-network-seek-telcos-support-for-commercial-deals/113483697

Responses to some of the queries on 5G live trials as responded by three implementing teams are given below.

?1.??????????????? No. of sites/or locations where these live 5G trials are being conducted, participants and which spectrum is being used?

Lekha Wireless

Lekha Wireless has deployed at the MTNL’s Minto Road location, with support from Niral Network for its core and others for support equipment by BSNL (Towers, Power Supply, Infrastructure). Band 28 / 700MHz spectrum is used.

VVDN

VVDN has deployed at the MTNL Chanakyapuri location, with participation from VVDN and BSNL with support of CDOT, WiSiG.

GALORE

Galore is deploying three sites at MTNL’s locations in Rajendra Nagar, Karol Bagh and Shadipur.

Spectrum used is Band 28. ?

Galore can offer its product even in other bands like B1/ B35/ B20/ B28/ B78.

Galore has also partnered with its IMS partner Coral Telecom to connect 5G network to legacy 3G network thereby ensuring seamless connectivity for BSNL customers.

?2. ?????????? What is the 5G architecture – standalone or non-standalone? And who is providing the core network?

Lekha Wireless:

Deployment is ORAN 5G Network with stand-alone. The Core network is coming from Indian companies like Niral, and others.

VVDN

The architecture is based on an Open RAN solution, with end-to-end services provided by VVDN Technologies.

?3. ?????????? Can this participating homegrown startups/ equipment win commercial 5G deals from BSNL?

Lekha Wireless

Yes of course. We already have the experience of building and deploying carrier grade 4G Network in parts of BSNL’s Karnataka Circle using funding from USOF.

VVDN

Yes, we are fully capable of supporting 100% Make in India Design and Manufacturing solution for BSNL for commercial deployments, Private Enterprise Networks, and even Intelligent networks. We have 7 manufacturing facilities at Manesar and more in other southern states.

GALORE

Galore is commercially ready for deployment with BSNL, Private 5G Network in partnership with BSNL and other Service Providers to meet the requirements of PSUs in Mining, Refinery, Steel Plants and multiple industrial 5G use cases. Homegrown companies like Galore are fully equipped commercially and technically to deploy commercial network. In short, answer is a bold YES.

?4. ?????????? What is the broader objective of these trials? How will it help BSNL, homegrown companies, and consumers?

Lekha Wireless

Broader objective of 5G live trials is to have first-hand experience prior to launch of full-fledged commercial 5G deployment for MTNL and BSNL customers in Metro cities. This will provide multiple competitive deployment options to BSNL through domestic technology and they can play the role of support partners and the model can even work not only in in India but even in and global markets.?

VVDN

The goal is to develop a fully indigenous 5G solution that can be deployed locally and globally, positioning India as a leader in the telecommunications sector.

GALORE

The objective is to reduce the import bills, dependence on MNCs and provide cost effective Total Cost of Ownership for operator (BSNL) and affordable 5G connectivity for BSNL customers. Galore’s range of 5G products offers flexibility in deploying disaggregated RAN which can bring the Total Cost of Ownership down for BSNL and other operators worldwide subsequently.

?5. ?????????? Are there any challenges that need to be addressed?

Lekha Wireless

Domestic companies must continue the investment on R&D along with investment towards commercialization. Support is required not only from government for R&D funding but operators also in offering encouraging commercial models to domestic 5G partners which will help domestic companies to gradually scale up the 5G roll out.

VVDN

We need to move forward with more site deployments commercially and run the entire system with live traffic to observe. We have the complete technical teams for supporting commercial deployments.

Orders also need to come from Service providers like BSNL.

Galore

Galore and its Indigenous consortium partners need more diversity in its supply chain to bring the down the cost of goods sold. We are happy that Government of India is already working towards it. Also, if Indigenous companies like Galore gets reserve quota in Public & Private telecom gear procurement, it will act as a catalyst to the growth of home-grown companies.