COAI represents incumbent carriers Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea
Telecom operators in India need spectrum in the 6GHz band to effectively expand 5G networks in the country, said SP Kochhar, general director of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). .
“Unfortunately, we only had 800 MHz available in the last auction, which means we are missing 1,200 MHz. If we need to effectively deploy 5G in the mid-band, we will need 1,200 MHz from the 6GHz band. The spectrum requirement will be fully met by taking it out and giving it to IMT,” the executive said in an interview with a local newspaper. economic times.
COAI represents incumbent telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. While Jio and Airtel have almost completed pan-India rollout of their 5G networks, Vodafone Idea is yet to commercially launch its 5G services.
The executive noted that there is a mismatch between the amount of spectrum available to local carriers and the geographic area that 5G networks must cover.
“We’re not getting the right kind of spectrum. 5G deployments are happening primarily in the 3.3-3.6 GHz range, and if we want to optimally deploy 5G, we’ll need 2 gigahertz. ” he added.
The executive also highlighted that 6G networks are expected to have higher frequency requirements and urged the Indian government to plan its frequency pipeline taking into account the expected demand. .
The Indian government recently confirmed that the upcoming spectrum auction is scheduled to begin on May 20th.
The next auction will feature 5G radio waves in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.3 GHz, and 26 GHz bands. Telecommunications carriers wishing to purchase spectrum can apply until April 22. According to reports, a mock spectrum auction will be held on May 13th and 14th.
The auction will attract only a few bids for spectrum renewal from Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi), sources said.
Bharti Airtel and Vi permits expire in 2024 in some parts of India. Airtel’s spectrum update this year will be in the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands in J&K, Odisha, Bihar, UP East, West Bengal and Assam. Vi faces spectrum renewal in West Bengal (900 MHz and 1800 MHz) and UP-West (900 MHz).
