Page 24 - SAMENA ELITE - October-December 2024

INDUSTRY UPDATES
24 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2024

5G FWA: A Game-Changer for India’s Low Broadband Penetration,
Says Qualcomm Executive: Report

US-based chip company Qualcomm
reportedly said the Fixed Wireless
Access (FWA) service is addressing
India's low fixed broadband
penetration, especially in underserved
urban and rural areas. The company
powers nearly 80 percent of
the 5G FWA connections in the
country, according to Qualcomm
Technologies Group General Manager
- Connectivity, Broadband and
Networking Business Unit, Rahul Patel,
in an interaction with ET.

Globally, 5G FWA is gaining traction
as a solution for regions with limited opportunities in the digital economy," said, according to the report.
fiber networks, enabling high-speed, Rahul Patel reportedly said.
reliable internet for residential and Explaining how AI at the network edge
enterprise users. In India, it is unlocking Advancing AI at the Edge boosts end consumer experience,
opportunities for IoT integration, smart The company's AI gateways are Patel reportedly said, "Integrating
manufacturing, and cloud-based enhancing real-time data processing AI at the network edge significantly
applications, according to the report. and decision-making at the network enhances the end-user experience by
edge, with applications in smart delivering faster, more personalised,
Wireless Data Growth Projected cities, industrial IoT, and autonomous and secure interactions. By
Qualcomm predicts a surge in vehicle networks. Qualcomm's processing data directly on devices,
wireless data consumption and edge AI technologies, including the edge AI reduces reliance on cloud
internet subscribers in India over the Networking Pro A7 Elite platform, are services, leading to lower latency and
next five years, fuelled by the rapid optimising 5G networks and boosting quicker responses. On-device AI also
deployment of 5G. According to Patel, user experiences by reducing latency enables personalised experiences by
technologies like the 3.5 GHz spectrum and enabling personalised services. tailoring services to individual user
and scalable FWA solutions are preferences without compromising
making broadband access faster and Patel explained the company's privacy. For instance, smartphones
more cost-effective, bringing high- AI gateway, describing it as "a can adapt their functionalities based
speed connectivity to underserved platform that integrates advanced on user behaviour to offer customised
regions. AI capabilities into network recommendations and features."
infrastructure, enabling real-time
"Qualcomm is deeply invested in processing, analysis, and decision- Wi-Fi 7 Innovation
enabling this transformation. Through making at the edge of the network. According to Patel, Qualcomm
our collaborations with Indian telecom By enabling faster data processing is also leading the next wave of
operators and the introduction and smarter automation, it connectivity with its Wi-Fi 7 roadmap,
of cutting-edge technologies, we enhances operational efficiency, featuring advancements like 320MHz
are strengthening the nation’s reduces latency, and improves user bandwidth, 4K QAM, and Multi-Link
digital ecosystem to meet the experience." Operation (MLO). Designed for high-
growing demand for reliable, high- speed and low-latency performance,
performance connectivity. We are "This technology has been deployed Wi-Fi 7 addresses the demands of
with India's ambitions for a digitally in several critical use cases, including bandwidth-intensive applications in
connected future, where consumers 5G network optimisation, smart homes and enterprises.
and enterprises can benefit from cities, advanced industrial IoT, and
enhanced connectivity and new autonomous vehicle networks," Patel

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