TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) is conducting 5G small cell tests with street furniture in multiple parts of the country with the help of telecom operators. Vodafone Idea (Vi), the third largest telecom operator, is helping TRAI carry out these 5G small cell tests. In the test in Bhopal, Vodafone Idea managed to achieve a maximum download speed of 1 Gbps. Bhopal was chosen by TRAI as one of the first smart cities in the country to be tested for the function of street furniture for 5G small cells. These tests would play an important role in helping operators roll out next-generation connectivity technology using improved infrastructure, including small cells mounted on street furniture.
Vodafone Idea also conducted the same test in Bengaluru
This isn’t the only place Vi has shown the power of its 5G network. The telco had also assisted TRAI in a 5G test with small cells with street furniture in the Namma Metro, Bengaluruwhere the telco said it reached a maximum download speed of 1.2 Gbps.
The pilot included coordination, administration, permissions, authorization for use and other support of various entities such as MP State Government, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, District Collector Office, Bhopal Smart City, Bhopal Police, Bhopal City Link Ltd (Bus city service), DISCOM, Advertising agency and other government agencies. The lessons learned from this project will in turn be used for the rollout of 5G in other Smart Cities in the country. In this pilot, Vi demonstrated a 5G download speed of 1 Gbps on a mobile phone at four locations: New Market, Jyoti Square, Prabhat Petrol Pump and Inter State Bus Terminus.
Small cells will be crucial for the telcos to provide their customers with strong coverage of the 5G network. So these tests will lay the foundation for India to move faster with 5G into the future.
