Rs 70 crore in UK vs Rs 492 crore in India: Why 5G spectrum prices need revision
Given that the government has not included this band in the upcoming auctions, the 5G services are likely to be further delayed in the country
Manu Kaushik | February 11, 2021 | Updated 15:39 IST
TRAI has recommended Rs 492 crore per MHz as base price
The spectrum auctions are almost here. On March 1, the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) will begin the auction process for airwaves in the 700 MHz (megahertz), 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands. A huge amount of spectrum - 2251.25 MHz - will be up for sale. Although after the liberalisation of spectrum any spectrum can be used for any technology (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G), globally 3300-3600 MHz range is gaining the most traction for delivering 5G services.
Airtel says its networks are now 5G-ready.
Airtel’s networks are now 5G ready, Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of India and South Asia of Bharti Airtel said in a Q3 2021 earnings call. He admitted that the 5G ecosystem itself in India is still at a nascent stage considering that the devices that were shipped in the country in December 2020, only about 4 percent to 5 percent were 5G compatible. Also Read - Motorola Moto G50 5G launched with 90hz screen refresh rate, 5000mAh battery: Check price
“So to that extent, I think you’re seeing some movement on 5G and this number compared to, let’s say, October was 2 percent. And if you compare it with September it was almost nothing. So there has been a change in some of the shipments coming in,” Vittal added. Also Read - Reliance Jio to launch Jio 5G phone, low-cost JioBook laptop at AGM 2021: Report
If not 100 MHz, telcos should get 80 MHz 5G spectrum: TRAI Chairman
The ongoing tussle between DoT, and DoS, ISRO and defence ministry has already delayed the launch of 5G in the country. Globally, radiowaves across sub-1 GHz (600 MHz, 700 MHz), mid-band (3.5 GHz), and millimeter-band (26, 28 GHz) are being used to deliver 5G services
Manu Kaushik | January 11, 2021 | Updated 18:53 IST
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Even as the conflicts with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), Department of Space, and defence ministry are yet to be resolved, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman PD Vaghela says that each telecom operator should get 80 MHz (megahertz) of 5G spectrum. If not 100 MHz, then at least 80 MHz. 100 MHz is ideal. We are clear that we cannot give inadequate spectrum to the telecom sector. That will be detrimental to the sector. It makes them dependable on the government. They will be begging to the government to give more spectrum which is not good. It