5G launched in Odisha, BJD says 5G shouldn’t be reduced to publicity stunt

Bhubaneswar: Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday launched the 5G service in Odisha during a programme at SOA Campus-2, here.

The next generation of mobile broadband will be available in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in the initial phase while Reliance Jio aims to extend it to other cities in the coming days. According to sources, 510 base transceiver stations (BTS) towers have already been installed across the state by telecom operators Reliance Jio and Airtel. Jio has also set up a 5G experience lab at SOA.

Vaishanaw said that entire Odisha will be covered with 5G services by December 31, 2024. “Eight software technology parks will be set up by December 31, 2023, while mobile towers will be set up at all crucial places across Odisha by August 15, 2024,” he said while inaugurating 100 telecom towers for rural areas.

“Today, 4.5 crore Odias are getting the gift of 5G. It will usher in infinite possibilities, help realise PM Narendra Modi’s vision of Purvodaya and pave the way for a new era in Odisha,” Dharmendra said.

Soon after the launch of 5G services, BJD said it should not be reduced to publicity stunt and urged the Centre to concentrate more on improving tele-density and internet connectivity in rural and tribal-dominated areas of the state.

Addressing a press meet, BJD MP and party’s national spokesperson Dr Amar Patnaik said the governance model of Odisha government is based on the 5T framework. One of the pillars of this framework is ‘Technology’.