According to Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), allocation of spectrum in 6 GHz band without auction would result in a potential loss of over Rs 3 trillion to the national exchequer. COAI suggested that the government should earmark the entire 1200 MHz of frequency in the 6 GHz radiowaves band for 5G mobile service as telecom operators need those to deliver 100 Mbps download speed and 50 Mbps upload speed to subscribers.
COAI stated that India is a mobile-first nation and, therefore, Wi-Fi is not required much and that is why opening the complete 6 GHz band for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) for 5G communications can help improve the quality of coverage, enhancing the experience of users. It said that the insufficient spectrum in mid-bands will imply extreme densification to meet mobile broadband demand. Extreme densification imposes unsustainably high costs (ultimately borne by users), increased carbon footprint, and may not even be feasible due to interference or site availability challenges.
The industry body has again urged the government to allot full 6 GHz band to 5G communications to address future demand as technologies such as internet of things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and smart cities continue to evolve. It added that 6 GHz band is crucial for enhancing the performance of 5G networks, enabling higher data speeds, increased capacity, and improved connectivity.
