Defence, space departments likely to vacate spectrum for commercial 5G services

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Defence, and the Department of Space are likely to vacate airwaves in the 3300-3600 MHz range paving a way for the launch of commercial fifth-generation or 5G services by private telecom carriers, according to highly-placed sources.

“Over the last few weeks, there have been inter-ministerial meetings, and the two departments holding 125 units in the 3300-3600 MHz band spectrum, are likely to vacate it as per conditions, the person aware of the development said.

The 3300-3400 MHz band is being held by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and a block of 25 units or 3400-3425 MHz is presently used by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), leaving 125 MHz out of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ambit.