Telecom officials feel that the decision by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to start talks on opening up numerous millimeter wave (mmWave) or 5G high-bands will not make up for the shortage of 5G spectrum in mid-bands, particularly around 6 gigahertz (GHz).
On April 4, Trai published a paper on auctioning mobile spectrum in specific GHz bands.
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel executives told Business Standard that the focus shifts to millimeter wave tech from releasing 2GHz mid-band spectrum.
In India, only the two telecom service providers (TSPs) provide 5G services
When aiming to target heavily populated urban areas, millimeter wave or spectrum bands over 24 GHz are a useful tool.
TSPs have the chance to provide hitherto unheard-of peak rates, minimal latency, and large capacity thanks to the high band.
Due to signals’ restricted range compared to mid- and low-band transmissions, the mmwave is constrained. They frequently cover less than a mile and are more vulnerable to obstructions from structures like glass, trees, and buildings.
However, the advantage of the millimeter-wave spectrum is that customers can achieve connection rates of up to 3 Gbps or more, provided the transmission is unimpeded.
5G has specific use cases for high bands like 37.5 GHz, particularly in densely populated urban regions. But the 6GHz spectrum needs to be made available. This subject has been discussed at several meetings. Additionally, we have informed the government of our stance,” a telco representative stated.
Although the 37–37.5 GHz spectrum has been set aside for worldwide broadband mobile use, satellite gateway links and mobile devices also use the 40–42.5 GHz and 37.5–40 GHz bands.
In contrast, both use the 42.5–43.5 GHz spectrum, while satellites only use the 40–42.5 GHz range.
Requirement for 6GHz
The largest unclaimed spectrum block is in the 6 GHz range, where telecoms and IT businesses are vying for control. This is because of its enormous potential for WiFi growth and 5G connectivity. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reserved 6.425-7.125GHz for mobile-licensed operations in December.
COAI, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, insists on reserving 1200 MHz spectrum for mobile communication in India. In India, the mid-band is currently only available at 720 MHz, according to the report.
WRC-23, which convened to update global radio airwaves agreements, made the decision.
WRCs are conducted under the ITU’s auspices every four years, so officials claim India has plenty of time to clarify its stance.