The Government’s Move to Refarm Spectrum for Better Connectivity
The Indian government has made an important decision to release 687 megahertz of spectrum from different ministries. This is aimed at improving mobile services, especially for 5G and the upcoming 6G technologies. According to Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, this move increases the total available spectrum for Indian telecom providers to 1,587 megahertz.
The spectrum is being drawn from several entities, including the Ministry of Defense, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. These frequencies will soon be put up for auction.
Scindia mentioned that by 2030, the total demand for spectrum in the telecom sector is expected to reach 2,000 megahertz. Currently, there is a deficit of 1,100 megahertz as the country only has 900 megahertz available. The 687 megahertz being refarmed is a step toward bridging this gap.
From the newly released spectrum, 328 megahertz will be made available immediately. Indian telecom companies have been requesting additional spectrum to enhance both 4G and 5G services, as well as to prepare for 6G. To address this need, a committee of secretaries is actively working to identify more spectrum for future refarming.
Scindia stated that a report on further actions regarding spectrum allocation will be ready by mid-year. This is aimed at ensuring no delays hamper the growth of telecom services in India.
SP Kochhar, the director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), praised the government’s initiative. He expressed optimism about the country’s journey toward achieving the desired 2,000 megahertz for the IMT band.
Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) indicated plans to refarm over 1,100 megahertz of spectrum currently allocated to various ministries. This initiative will focus on different frequency bands, especially in the mid-band range (1-6 GHz) and parts of the 6 GHz band.
The DoT has pinpointed several spectrum bands that will soon be made available for auction to local carriers. These bands are currently used by government ministries, including those involved in defense and broadcasting, and will be transitioned to free up more airwaves for commercial use. Some of this spectrum is tied up in legacy systems, and plans are in place to shift those systems to different frequencies.
