India’s Minister of Telecommunications Ashwini Vaishnaw has successfully made the country’s first 5G audio-video call., coming after the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the new 5G testbed at IIT Madras earlier this week.
During a physical event at IIT Madras, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the country’s first audio-video call based on the indigenous 5G spectrum. The Minister took to Twitter to announce the successful testing along with a video showing him making the first 5G call in India.
Following the success of the call, Vaishnaw praised the IIT Madras team behind the development of the 5G testbed, which cost Rs 220 crores. It aims to help India become one of the largest 5G network providers globally by helping Indian telecom giants develop their 5G network and reducing dependency on foreign entities, especially China. The Minister further added that the 5G development ecosystem will also aid the Hyperloop initiative in India.
“We’re proud of the IIT-Madras team which has developed the 5G test pad which will provide huge opportunities to the entire 5G development ecosystem and the Hyperloop initiative. Railways Ministry will fully support the Hyperloop initiative,” Vaishnaw said in a statement.
The new 5G solution will be made available for commercial purposes through the state-owned BSNL. The telecom giant will be working with a Government-backed body, the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDoT) for 4G and 5G networks. The 5G testbed will be made available to private operators at a later date.
