The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has urged for a larger allocation of mid-band spectrum in the 6GHz range, claiming that a minimum of 1200 MHz is required to provide adequate coverage and capacity for 5G deployment. The group, which represents three of India’s private telecom service providers – Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea – has written to the telecom secretary advocating for more spectrum. According to the COAI, without the required additional mid-band spectrum, mobile networks would need to significantly increase the number of base stations to deliver 5G data rate targets.
The COAI further highlighted that failure to increase the number of base stations would reduce 5G download speeds by 50% if less spectrum is allocated in the 6 GHz band, or by 80% if only 700 MHz is allocated. The National Broadband Mission has set a target of achieving speeds of up to 50 Mbps by 2024-25. To achieve this, the COAI recommends allocating the entire 5925-7125 MHz or 1200 MHz spectrum in the 6 GHz band for mobile applications.
As of now, only 720 MHz is available in the mid-band in India. The Centre is yet to decide which sector to reserve the spectrum for, and a panel formed under the wireless planning and coordination wing of the Department of Telecommunications is currently considering the matter.
The COAI’s appeal for a larger share of mid-band spectrum in the 6GHz range comes amid growing demand for reliable and high-speed internet connectivity as India gears up to transition to 5G technology. With the rise of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things, 5G has the potential to revolutionize various industries by enabling faster data transfer, lower latency, and higher reliability. However, the success of 5G deployment depends on the allocation of adequate spectrum, making the COAI’s request a crucial aspect of India’s digital transformation.
