5G’s bigger opportunity lies in industrial automation, telecom executives say

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:06:00 +0000

Hands holding tablet on blurred automation machine as background
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

India’s rapid rollout of 5G has brought the technology to millions of smartphone users, but its larger potential may lie in connecting machines, robots and industrial systems, telecom executives said.

Prathitha Muthurangam, Enterprise Business Head – Tamil Nadu & Kerala at Bharti Airtel, said 4G was adequate for many smartphone applications, while 5G could enable a broader range of industrial and machine-to-machine use cases.

“We don’t need 5G. Even 4G is enough for our phones to work,” she said, noting that smartphones do not utilise all the capabilities that 5G offers.

“But 5G as a data use case is for industries because it is a heavy duty,” she added, referring to industrial applications that require high-speed connectivity and low latency.

Muthurangam was speaking during a panel discussion on ‘5G & its Impact on Industrial Automation and Robotics’ at ASME’s International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE) in Chennai. The panel brought together executives from Bharti Airtel, Ericsson, KPMG, Nokia and Vodafone Idea.

According to the panelists, private 5G networks deployed within factories could connect machines, robots and industrial equipment through dedicated networks. Potential applications include automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), industrial Internet of Things (IoT), AI-powered visual inspection and edge computing.

Surendra Shenoy, Head of Design and Optimise, RAN Delivery at Nokia, said 5G represented a shift towards connectivity designed specifically for machines.

“5G was the first technology that was built for machines,” he said.

The low latency offered by 5G can enable machines to communicate and respond more quickly, which could be particularly important in industrial environments. The panelists noted that an AGV stopping unexpectedly during an operation, for example, could be more than a technical problem—it could become a safety concern.

Despite the potential, private 5G deployment in India remains at an early stage. Muthurangam said telecom companies had carried out several deployments, but the number was still relatively small.

“We’ve done a few deployments, but not large in numbers, but we are looking at a few more,” she said.

The panelists also noted that technology availability alone would not determine adoption. For manufacturers, the scale of investment required and the return generated by specific applications would be key factors in deciding whether to deploy private 5G networks.

Published – September 05, 2026 06:35 pm IST

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Jio can deploy 5G cell every 10 seconds, deployed 85% 5G network in India: Akash Ambani

admin — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:11:34 +0000

Akash Ambani. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

“Telecom major Reliance Jio has deployed 85% 5G network in India and has the capability to deploy one 5G cell in every 10 seconds,” the company’s Chairman Akash Ambani said.

According to a statement released by broadband speed and quality measurement firm Ookla, the Reliance Jio chairman said the company has covered the entire country with a 5G network ahead of the promised time frame of December 2023.

Indians willing to pay a premium for elevated 5G experience

“I am particularly proud of our speed of the committed True 5G roll-out. Today, we have covered the entire country with a robust True 5G network ahead of our promised time frame of December 2023. Eighty five per cent of the entire 5G deployment in India is made by Jio. We continue to deploy one 5G cell every 10 seconds,” Mr. Ambani said.

According to the Department of Telecom, more than 3.38 lakh base stations for 5G have been deployed across the country.

“Over the past seven years, we’ve set several global benchmarks, propelling India into digital prominence. Today, our ambitions are even higher, and our faith in India’s digital future is as strong as ever. We remain fully committed to achieving the full potential of a digital India, and to help India become a leader on the global stage,” Mr. Ambani said.

Ookla on Sunday said Jio has emerged as the number one network in India, winning all nine Speedtest awards presented by Ookla for mobile networks in the market, including all awards for 5G networks.

“Jio has emerged as the #1 Network in India, winning all nine awards for Mobile Networks in the market, including all awards for 5G networks. This is a first for any service provider anywhere in the world,” Ookla said.

“Jio won awards for the best mobile network, fastest mobile network, best mobile coverage, top-rated mobile network, best mobile video experience, best mobile gaming experience, fastest 5G mobile network, best 5G mobile video experience, and best 5G mobile gaming experience,” Ookla said.

“We are pleased to recognise Jio’s efforts in providing the best customer experience in speed, video, and gaming to their customers. These awards and this recognition makes them the most awarded network in India, reaffirming Jio’s ambition to offer the best-in-class network to their consumers,” Ookla President and CEO Stephen Bye said.

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5G’s bigger opportunity lies in industrial automation, telecom executives say

Jio can deploy 5G cell every 10 seconds, deployed 85% 5G network in India: Akash Ambani