5G set to cover 80% of India by next October if chip supply is assured

Telcos to install over 1.5 million radios by then; all metros, and towns will be covered, say vendors

Telecom gear companies have put together a 5G network rollout plan with service providers to install new radios at an average of 160,000 towers per operator by September-October or during the festival season next year.

Vendors say this will embrace all metros, cities and towns and cover 80 per cent of the country geographically. Vendors will be shipping over 1.4 million radios or assembling them in India on different spectrum bands. There is one rider, though--the chip shortage, which has eased considerably of late, should not return.  

A leading telecom vendor executive said about 10,000 towers have so far been