There are more 5G smartphones being sold than 4G ones globally now. Ironic, considering that 5G services are nowhere on the horizon in India, one of the world's biggest telecom markets.
This, considering that nearly one in every five smartphones sold in India last year was a 5G-enabled one, with sales of 5G phones expected to cross 50 per cent by this year's festive season, once prices stabilise.
But the jury's still out on when those phones would actually receive a 5G signal, though insiders say it could well be delayed to next year.
Auction of 5G spectrum to telecom operators has been delayed repeatedly over the past couple of years. July is the fresh date being talked about, though it is believed that PM Narendra Modi is keen to kickstart, or at least announce the kickstart, of 5G mobile services in the country for the general public in time for Independence Day.
Smartphone sales, tabulated by Counterpoint Research's Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker revealed that a few weeks ago, sales penetration of 5G-capable smartphones reached 51 per cent globally, surpassing that of 4G smartphones for the first time.
China, North America and Western Europe were the biggest drivers of this growth, with Apple, whose models have been 5G ready since the iPhone 12 in 2020, dominating in the latter markets. However, the highest penetration is in China, with 84 per cent in January, aided by local mobile manufacturer's readiness to supply competitively priced 5G smartphones to consumers.
Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America are expected to be the next focus area of 5G phone makers, with Android 5G smartphones, which were originally priced high, now trickling down in price.
However, in India, while there are 5G smartphones selling briskly in the market, especially iPhones, they are not of much use, with a good chance that we may not get to see a nationwide rollout before 2023. While officially, the government says auctions will take place in summer (April-May), ground reality indicates that once the difference in opinion between the government, regulator (TRAI) and operators over anything from high auction prices to which band spectrum is the most ideal, it could well stretch on to July, or even beyond.With operators saying they would need about six months after spectrum is allotted, it could mean India will have to wait till next year for 5G services.
Leading operators like Airtel and Vi have been testing their 5G readiness in cities like Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Ahmedabad. Chances are that, with the PM keen on a faster rollout, at least some cities may see a partial rollout by August 15. Earlier, the telecom ministry had announced that 5G would initially be rolled out in 13 cities, including the four metros.
