Airtel, Vodafone Idea likely to file additional applications for 5G trials without China-based vendors

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) are likely to file additional applications seeking spectrum for 5G trials without including China-based vendors Huawei and ZTE.

According to industry sources, the companies will file applications as a backup to the existing ones and this can induce the government to allocate spectrum for 5G trials.

The development follows government displeasure on including China-based companies in any project that can have security implications amid the border standoff between the two nations.