Mobile phone ecosystem for 5G gets ready ahead of spectrum auction

The key challenge now, however, is to bring down the prices of smartphones

A vibrant mobile phone ecosystem to power 5G is already available before the auction takes off and services are launched. Chipmakers and device companies have been at it to make 5G work from day one.  

Rajen Vagadia, president, Qualcomm India and SAARC, said the chipmaker started work in 2020 when the first 5G phones were launched. “We expect 30 per cent (Counterpoint Research says 40 per cent) of all total smartphones in 2022 to be 5G. And we expect it to go upwards of 50 per cent in 2023. So there will be a substantial base of 5G smart phone owners