After receiving permits to trial 5G technologies from the Department of Telecommunications, India’s operators have selected suppliers for their tests.
Market leader Reliance Jio will deploy equipment from its current supplier Samsung, while second and third-placed Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel are opting to use kit from a number of different vendors, including Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia and ZTE. State-owned BSNL will exclusively use ZTE equipment.
Earlier this month, the Indian government cleared Chinese vendors such as Huawei and ZTE to provide network equipment in the 5G trials, despite pressure from the US. The Indian government has previously expressed concern over whether Huawei’s kit could be used for espionage purposes, and has established a committee to conduct a security review of the Chinese vendor’s equipment.
India’s first 5G spectrum auction is currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2020.
