Telcos say spectrum available in mid-band for 5G grossly inadequate; want 80MHz per telco

New Delhi: Operators are asking the telecom department to ensure optimum availability of spectrum—at least 80 Mhz each—in the 3300-3600 mid band earmarked for 5G services. They said the current availability of just 175 MHz for all service providers — or some 60 MHz each — is “grossly inadequate” and would adversely impact the 5G roll out.

“We have been requesting DoT to kindly recognise the importance of the 3300-3600 MHz band for 5G, and thus, this band should be protected and exclusively used for 5G services,” SP Kochhar, DG at Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), told ET. "Presently, the availability of only 175 MHz spectrum in 3300 MHz is grossly inadequate.” Kochhar said Indian telcos can make themselves ready for 5G when at least 80MHz per telco is identified in the 3.5GHz band.

Kochar said that if 175 MHz spectrum is auctioned, then each private operator can potentially get an equal share of 60 MHz and such a situation will lead to limiting usage of the band for 4G only and would adversely impact the roll out of 5G services in India.