The Mobile Operators Affiliation of India (COAI) has backed the GSMA’s suggestion to the Division of Telecommunications (DoT) to incorporate the 6 GHz spectrum band in India’s upcoming spectrum public sale. The business physique emphasised that enough mid-band spectrum allocation is crucial for strengthening India’s 5G growth and reaching the Digital India imaginative and prescient.
Additionally Learn: GSMA Urges India’s DoT to Embody 6GHz Band in Subsequent Spectrum Public sale: Report
Allocating 6 GHz band for IMT Providers
“Allocating the 6 GHz band for IMT providers will present telecom operators with the obligatory sources to drive innovation, broaden rural connectivity and assist rising applied sciences equivalent to AI, IoT and cloud computing,” stated SP Kochhar, director-general of the Mobile Operators Affiliation of India (COAI).
COAI represents Indian telecom operators, together with Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Thought (Vi).
Help for GSMA’s Advice
COAI highlighted the exponential progress in knowledge demand and the necessity for extra spectrum to boost community capability and repair high quality. It confused that allocating the 6.425-7.125 GHz band for Worldwide Cell Telecommunications (IMT) would drive innovation, broaden rural connectivity, and assist rising applied sciences like AI, IoT, and cloud computing. The affiliation additionally identified that a number of nations have already designated this band for IMT following the WRC-23 convention, making it important for India’s future cellular networks.
Additionally Learn: What Did COAI and Broadband India Discussion board Say About Spectrum Refarming?
“As talked about by GSMA, the 6.425-7.125 GHz vary has been recognized for IMT at WRC-23 by a number of nations and goes to be important for 5G growth and future improvement of cellular networks whereas additional supporting India’s ambition to develop into a world hub for superior telecom applied sciences,” stated Kochhar.
“We’re utterly aligned with the GSMA’s viewpoint and wish to reiterate that inadequate spectrum in mid-bands for the IMT providers would indicate excessive densification to satisfy the cellular broadband demand of the county,” Kochhar added.
Additionally Learn: Cupboard Approves Spectrum Refarming for 5G and Future 6G Providers: Report
Name for Additional Spectrum Allocation
In accordance with Kochhar, this additionally aligns with the current announcement by Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, on the DIGICOM Summit 2025, the place he confirmed the Cupboard’s approval of 687 MHz of spectrum for IMT. Whereas the primary part of allocation has elevated holdings to 320 MHz, COAI famous a 400 MHz deficit and urged additional approvals to assist seamless 5G deployment throughout the nation.
This shortfall “must be made up within the subsequent submissions by the Committee of Secretaries, to the cupboard. It will allow rollout and offering of higher 5G providers to the complete nation at giant, which is the broad goal of the federal government and the business.“
Additionally Learn: GSMA Says 750 Million Gained 5G Entry Globally in 2023, Largely Pushed by India
Attraction to DoT
Calling for a balanced spectrum coverage, COAI urged the DoT to behave on GSMA’s suggestions to maximise financial progress whereas guaranteeing the most effective pursuits of all stakeholders.
