Airtel takes on Reliance Jio: Desi 5G may not ‘help’ India

NEW DELHI: Telecom operator Airtel doesn’t seem too enthused by Desi 5G. The idea to develop India-specific 5G standard may lock the country out of the global ecosystem, warned Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal. “There are sometimes talks that India must have its own 5G standard. This is an existential threat which could lock India out of the global ecosystem and slow down the pace of innovation. We could have let our citizens down if you allow that to happen,” said Vittal speaking on the inaugural day of India Mobile Congress 2020.
He added that the country needs to create an open ecosystem and promote applications development for India and by India and for this businesses need to come together. “We have to set aside our differences and be part of one, the private sector, telcos equipment players, device players, manufacturing companies, IT companies, everyone can benefit as the growth of technology makes us all more productive. So we should collectively sign on to create a 5G ecosystem.”