5G Explainer: All you wanted to know about this new telecom technology

India’s first 5G spectrum auction, the telecom sector’s most awaited event, starts on July 26. Top carriers like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will bid for 5G airwaves to roll out next-gen mobile broadband networks capable of 10 times faster data speeds than 4G and a host of industrial/enterprise applications across industry verticals.

New entrant, Adani Data Networks too will pitch for some 5G airwaves, though, primarily for captive usage. But just how much 5G spectrum can the government hope to sell, given higher-than-expected reserve prices, the presence of just two strong bidders, ample spectrum supplies, the prospect of annual auctions and marginal appetite of the Adani Group?

ET’s Kalyan Parbat takes a look at how the upcoming 5G spectrum sale may unfold.