5G services across Odisha by August next year: Department of Telecommunication

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has drawn up plans for a state-wide roll out of 5G services and expects it to be completed by August next year with additional and upgraded mobile towers across the state.

Presently, over 500 towers have been providing 5G services in the state. During the 5G auction, dedicated spectrum was sold in Odisha enabling telecom operators in the state to provide the service.

DoT officers said all the 4G towers installed and commissioned in Odisha can be upgraded to 5G. “The 5G services were launched in Odisha on January 5. The implementation of the same is expected to be completed by August 2024,” deputy director general (communication), Naveen Kumar, said.

He said the 5G technology provides seamless coverage, high data and low latency and enables highly reliable communication network. “It will increase energy efficiency, spectrum efficiency and network efficiency,” Kumar added.

As per data, the state has over 3.3 crore mobile subscribers and 2.2 crore broadband subscribers. Over 1.20 lakh kilometres of optical fibre cable has been laid across the state while total number of mobile towers commissioned in the state has reached 24,692.

“The Centre has sanctioned installation of additional 5,333 mobile towers for Odisha which will connect 7,485 villages. About 52% of the planned mobile towers will be set up in eight districts,” the official said.

Kumar said the additional mobile towers coming up at a cost of Rs 5,600 crore will cover villages situated in the tribal dominated districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Balangir, Subarnapur, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts.

“So far, 4,748 locations have been identified and the work is in progress. About 356 towers have already been commissioned while the rest will be operational by August 2024. The towers have been planned to give high quality network connectivity across all uncovered villages,” he added.

Reports said the daily average of call drop complaints by 5G subscribers in Odisha stands at 2.7 which is 97 at the national level. In case of 4G subscribers, the number stands at 4 against the national average of 273.