6G Will Take Communication A Step Further By Integrating Sensing Capabilities Into Networks

Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited (HFCL), a leading innovator in telecommunications equipment, has been at the forefront of India’s 5G revolution, offering solutions that bridge gaps in broadband connectivity. In an exclusive conversation with Bizz Buzz, Jayanta Dey, Executive President - 5G, HFC, highlights the company’s impact: “Our 5G portfolio, including Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices, has been instrumental in expanding reliable broadband coverage across India and globally.”

Dey emphasises India’s rapid 5G rollout, which rivals global leaders despite economic challenges. HFCL’s cutting-edge millimeter-wave products are undergoing trials to meet future demands for high bandwidth. “5G is reshaping connectivity for both consumers and enterprises,” Dey shares, underscoring HFCL’s role in driving innovations like network slicing and paving the way for 6G advancements

Could you share your views about the developments in the 5G industry?

The first phase of 5G rollouts took place in early adopter countries like the U.S., China, and Japan. India, which began rolling out 5G just a year ago, has made rapid progress, with operators like Jio and Airtel deploying 5G nationwide. India’s rapid 5G rollout is notable. In just one year, we have seen significant deployment across the country, with major operators leading the charge. Despite starting later than some other countries, India’s rollout has been remarkably fast.

However, there has been a slowdown in 5G rollouts globally. This is partly due to the limited monetizable use cases beyond 5G FWA and the challenging global economic environment, leading operators to scale back their 5G CAPEX investments. Operators are looking for ways to monetize 5G beyond FWA, and while there are exciting possibilities like augmented reality, virtual reality, and advanced industrial applications, many of these use cases are still in the early stages of development.

But we’ll soon see advanced features like network slicing, which allows a single network to cater to diverse needs—high bandwidth for one enterprise, low latency for others, such as for gaming or manufacturing. So far, only a few operators in India and the US have deployed standalone 5G networks, but more are expected to follow soon.

Most of the 5G rollouts globally today are 5G standalone networks. Network slicing is a major feature that allows enterprises and consumers to use the same physical network for different needs, such as high bandwidth or low latency.

Notably, 5G is the first cellular technology designed to serve both consumers and enterprises. While 2G, 3G, and 4G focused mainly on consumers, 5G addresses enterprise needs as well. This shift is critical because enterprises are expected to be one of the largest beneficiaries of 5G technology. Industrial automation, smart cities, and IoT (Internet of Things) applications will all thrive on 5G’s capabilities.

As a future development, the 6G rollout is expected by 2030, with standards being defined over the next 2-3 years. Some advanced features of 6G will include integrated sensing and communication, as well as support for non-terrestrial networks, which will combine terrestrial and satellite networks. 6G will take communication a step further by integrating sensing capabilities into networks. This could allow for innovations like radar systems integrated directly into communications networks, enhancing applications.

Additionally, 6G will focus on connecting terrestrial networks with satellite systems, a feature we are already starting to see in some advanced 5G applications through non-terrestrial networks. This will enable seamless global connectivity, even in remote areas where traditional cellular infrastructure is hard to implement.

How much would it cost to roll out 5G?

In India, there are roughly 300,000 cell towers, most of which already support 4G. To upgrade these towers for 5G, each requires new base station and additional equipment, costing around $20,000 per tower. The nationwide 5G coverage across 300,000 sites would require a total investment of approximately $6 to $8 billion. Many operators are replacing 2G and 3G with 5G, as 5G is more energy-efficient in terms of data transfer. One of the key advantages of 5G over older technologies like 2G and 3G is its energy efficiency. 5G networks are designed to transfer more data while consuming less energy per bit, which is critical as data consumption continues to grow exponentially.

What will be the impact of 5G from the consumer's perspective?

For consumers, 5G unlocks new possibilities, such as augmented and virtual reality experiences that weren’t feasible with previous technologies. Gaming, especially multiplayer gaming, will improve dramatically. You’ll also see advancements in video quality, with smoother high-definition and long-form videos compared to 4G. These services will be more reliable and offer lower latency, improving the overall user experience. Overall, 5G delivers a far better user experience, which is why it’s called "enhanced mobile broadband.

Please give me an overview on your 5G portfolio.

HFCL specializes in communication equipment with a strong Wi-Fi and Unlicensed Band Radio (UBR) product portfolio, which we launched in 2017. Today, we are a trusted partner for leading telcos in India and globally. Over the years, we’ve built a large installed base of both Wi-Fi and UBR systems with major operators. In fact, since the launch of our first-generation UBR products in 2020, HFCL has already shipped over 500,000 UBR units globally, reaching markets in India, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Our 5G portfolio which was launched a couple of years ago focuses on access technologies, including the RAN (Radio Access Network), devices like 5G FWA CPEs, and access routers. The most successful 5G use case so far, both globally and in India, has been 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). Our 5G FWA CPE product is already being widely deployed by Indian operators.

FWA's success stems from the high demand for broadband coverage. While fiber is ideal, deploying it universally is challenging, especially in less populated areas where the economics don't add up. In such cases, FWA is an excellent alternative. Fiber provides the best broadband coverage, but it’s difficult and expensive to roll it out in every part of the country. FWA fills that gap effectively, ensuring reliable internet connectivity even in regions with lower population density where fiber optics may not be viable.

Our FWA CPE range is comprehensive, offering both indoor and outdoor units across all frequency bands, including sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave. We’ve already launched our N78 band CPE, but as 5G adoption grows and Sub-6 GHz spectrum gets saturated, FWA will shift to millimeter-wave, which provides much higher bandwidth—up to 4.5 Gbps.

Our millimeter-wave products, which are capable of delivering higher speeds and bandwidth, are already in the trial phase. We’ve been conducting field trials for our millimeter-wave outdoor CPE products with leading operators globally. This is an important step in proving the efficacy of these products in different environments and ensuring they meet global standards. Field trials are essential for refining the technology and optimizing it for large-scale deployment, ensuring it performs well under various network conditions.