Optical Wireless Technology - LiFi & FSOC will be a game changer technology for 5G rollout in India

This MADE IN INDIA technology can give India an edge over the existing technologies adopted by the developed nations

With the talks and discussions on high regarding the 5G service roll-out in India, experts are raising concerns over the deadline for launching, installation process hurdles, lengthy permission procedures, and many more issues. As India has experienced the challenges of using Microwave/ Millimetre Wave Radio technology as a backhaul for the 4G roll-out, the world is looking at how this biggest democratic nation will take its mobile user community to the next generation of communication. Ahmedabad based Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd, the only registered company in India doing research & developing products in the field of LiFi (Light Fidelity), has come forward to showcase the most feasible and practical solution for the 5G service launch across the country at the same time possibilities through Optical Wireless Communication (OWC).

Launching 5G services will be a mammoth and most challenging task for India. To provide high-speed voice & data and faster internet connectivity in every nook and corner of the country, more mobile towers need to be set up, which will require more space. An abundant amount of digging will be required to lay down fibre optic cables for mobile tower backhaul connectivity for the installation process. The utmost challenge will be to obtain Right of Way (RoW) permissions for laying cables, road cutting permissions for laying pipelines, etc., along with the road networks in every state. Installing 5G towers or laying optical fibre cables in areas like forests, densely populated cities, highways, metro stations, and high-security zones would be an even more difficult job. The amount of time required for RoW and the cost needed to develop active and passive infrastructure would be a complex and cumbersome job.

Elaborating on the issue and its solution, Mr Hardik Soni, Co-Founder and CTO, Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd, said, “Optical Wireless Communication backhaul links can be a catalyst in an expeditious roll-out of 5G networks. When we talk about the technologies, OWC could be the future. It’s the closest to Optical Fibre Communication as it provides wireless point to point connectivity over large distances of up to tens of kilometres with high bandwidth and uninterrupted connectivity. It’s hassle-free deployment, low power consumption, and is approximately 60% more economical than optical fibre cables. The best part is it can be deployed ten times faster than laying optical fibre cables underground. With OWC, the 5G network roll-out can become economical, rapid and reliable. At Nav Wireless, we are one of the pioneers working in this technology and looking forward to the major telecom players to adopt OWC for timely 5G rollout.”

OWC will use the city infrastructure like mobile towers with minimal space consumption; it is wireless and robust in design, which will overcome the RoW issues and time taken in negotiations for RoW permissions. It’s a low power consumption infrastructure. It is also faster to deploy and easy to manage as it is wireless with an auto-alignment system, low weight, compact in size, and easy to carry, saving both time and money.

Optical Wireless Communication will save the time and cost of digging and deploying the OFC network. It will keep the cost involved in the RoW permissions, and it will drastically reduce the CAPEX required for active and passive infrastructure. Also, it’s maintenance-free in comparison with OFC. With the rising need for a high-speed network and 5G rollout, OWC is a solution which could be easily adaptable and perfectly aligned with the Digital India Mission.

(Brand Desk Content)