NEW DELHI, Jan 14: The lack of allocated telecom spectrum in the 6-GHz band could create a shortage of radio waves for high-speed 5G services, which are vital for the growth of India’s digital economy and the advancement of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Tuesday.
India requires an additional 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum to meet the international ‘IMT-2020’ standards, achieving data rates of 100 Mbps for downlink and 50 Mbps for uplink in densely populated areas, COAI Director General S.P. Kochhar informed PTI, referencing global telecom organization GSMA.
“While the government is contemplating vacating the C-band spectrum (3,670-4,000 MHz) for 5G/6G implementation, this may not suffice to fulfill the necessary 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum for IMT (5G/6G). It is crucial to optimally allocate the available 1,200 MHz in the 6 GHz band for mobile communications in India to secure this essential mid-band spectrum,” Kochhar emphasized.
Wi-Fi service providers are advocating for the de-licensing of the 6 GHz spectrum, which would enhance internet service availability.
However, the COAI, which represents members such as Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea, has opposed the de-licensing of this spectrum. “Allowing de-licensing of a commercially valuable spectrum would lead to losses for the national treasury. We maintain that the call for de-licensing the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 7 is unfounded, as Wi-Fi 7 can efficiently utilize alternative spectrum bands for optimal performance,” stated Kochhar.
The government has already de-licensed 605 MHz of the 5 GHz frequency band, but Kochhar noted that 255 MHz of this band still remains underused.
He further pointed out that broader and uninterrupted mobile network coverage is essential for the growth of the digital economy, which plays a crucial role in job creation and enhancing India’s global competitiveness.
When questioned about the practice of de-licensing spectrum in the 6 GHz band in other countries, Kochhar explained that such measures were only introduced in regions with extensive optical fiber infrastructure, which is currently lacking in India, both in urban and rural contexts.
“Moreover, with a population density of 464 people per square kilometer, India’s density exceeds that of countries like Canada (108x), Norway (32x), Saudi Arabia (29x), Brazil (18x), and the USA (13x), all of which possess a robust wireline/OFC infrastructure,” he elaborated.
Kochhar concluded that nations such as the U.S. have recognized that de-licensing spectrum is a permanent change, and therefore, any potential decision on this issue should undergo thorough consideration and comprehensive techno-economic analysis in India, particularly for the allocation of any of the 5G spectrum, including the 6 GHz band.
If the mid-band radio waves are depleted, mobile service providers will have to rely on higher frequency bands, which provide less coverage, ultimately increasing the costs of public telecom service deployment.
Kochhar reinforced that the 6 GHz mid-band strikes a balance between wide coverage and capacity, which is essential for the swift and cost-effective rollout of 5G networks in India, addressing the rapidly growing data demands affordably.
“This approach would maximize the economic and societal benefits needed to reach the national goal of a $1 trillion digital economy. Additionally, it will cater to the increasing demand for 5G services and facilitate preparation for future technologies, such as 6G,” Kochhar added. (PTI)
