No challenge to 5G rollout without 700 MHz band: Vodafone Idea

Kolkata: Vodafone Idea’s leadership has said pricey 700 MHz spectrum won’t create any material advantage on 5G data capacity, and sees no challenges in rolling out 5G services without the band.

It believes the telco’s 3.3 GHz holdings in its priority circles are good enough to provide a quality 5G experience for several years, analysts, who participated in the telco’s June quarter earnings call Thursday, said.

“Vi has limited clarity on Jio’s strategy of acquiring 700MHz…it believes this spectrum does not provide additional 5G capacity, and that its 50 units of 3.3GHz spectrum in each of (priority) circles is good enough to provide a great 5G experience for several years,” BofA Securities said in note.