The GSMA has urged Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to include the 6 gigahertz (GHz) band (6.425–7.125GHz) in its forthcoming spectrum auction, highlighting its importance for enhancing 5G services and boosting India’s global telecom standing.
In a letter addressed to Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (T), DoT, Jeanette Whyte, head of public policy, GSMA Asia-Pacific, recommended that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) evaluate the inclusion of the 6GHz band along with other bands during the auction planning.
The GSMA emphasised that making this spectrum available to telecom providers is essential for accelerating India’s digital transformation and sustaining its global competitiveness in telecom technology. With growing 5G usage and rising data demands, the need for mid-band spectrum is expected to increase substantially.
This request follows a recent Union Cabinet decision to repurpose spectrum in 10 bands, including the 470MHz and 6GHz ranges, for 5G and future 6G development. However, the 6GHz band is currently utilised by various government departments such as defense, space, broadcasting, and railways, leading to ongoing discussions among industry stakeholders. While telecom players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, supported by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), are calling for the 6GHz band’s allocation for mobile services under the IMT framework, technology, and Wi-Fi advocates, represented by the Broadband India Forum (BIF), are lobbying for its delicensing to improve nationwide broadband access.
Further, as per GSMA, countries will require around 2GHz of mid-band spectrum on average by 2030 to maintain robust and high-quality 5G networks. The organisation also projects that 5G could contribute approximately $ 455 billion to India’s economy between 2023 and 2040.
