– Indian telecom industry is still waiting for a breakthrough to monetise 5G networks two years after its commercial launch
– Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a key application to connect homes, enterprises, and SMBs in India due to low fiber broadband penetration
– Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have introduced 5G FWA services to customers to complement their FTTH offerings
– Monetisation of 5G remains a challenge in India and globally, with FWA being a major opportunity
– Jio and Airtel are targeting millions of households with 5G services, including consumer and enterprise customers
– Challenges include cost of spectrum, lack of infrastructure, uncertainty around ROI, and standardisation issues
– Private 5G adoption is slow due to spectrum allotment ambiguity
– 5G-Advanced technology is set to enhance user experiences with XR, AI/ML enhancements, and efficient spectrum utilisation
– Vi and BSNL should consider upgrading to 5.5G-ready equipment to remain competitive
– Fixed broadband is seen as a revenue-generating opportunity for service providers with use cases like OTT content, advertising, and smart homes.