Succeeding 3G and preceding 5G, the fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, 4G in India has been a welcome venture. The internet service is accessible on phone, laptops, tablets and gaming consoles and potential, current applications include amended mobile web access, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, 3D television, and cloud computing.
In India Bharti Airtel was the first network provider to launch the 4G service, using TD-LTE technology, on 10 April 2012 in Kolkata. With the competition getting stronger among service providers in India to launch the 4G service at better prices and connectivity, to attract most customers, the 4G rush has taken the country by storm. Vodafone, Idea and Reliance Jio are expected to roll out their 4G services nationwide, by the end of 2015. These network giants are already testing their services in India, and their attempts have been met with success. Vodafone execs confirmed, “Preliminary work on the services has already begun. “Testing of 4G services has commenced successfully. Vodafone India has partnered with leading global technology infrastructure service providers for the network rollout.”
In a competition initiated by Airtel, it was really Reliance Jio’s announcement to roll out its 4G service by the end of this calendar year that prompted major network giants in country to plunge headfirst into the 4G wave. However this has given rise to concerns regarding the competition being irrational. An official at a leading operator says, “Most operators have neither the spectrum (airwaves they buy from the government through auctions) nor a business case to invest in the 4G technology till 3G adoption is higher.” If 4G in India is a piecemeal deployment or a successful one, only time will tell.
