Dept of Space, ISRO refuse to free up 28 GHz band for 5G rollout

The government’s plans to use more spectrum to aid 5G rollout starting next year have hit a temporary roadblock, with the Department of Space (DoS) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) refusing to free up the 28 GHz band, the coveted spectrum for the next-generation wireless technology.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) was hoping to deploy the 28 GHz band for future use, in tandem with some of the advanced markets worldwide, in addition to the 3300-3600 MHz band suggested by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). In fact, a high-level 5G Forum of the DoT had sought radio waves in the 27.5-29.5GHz (28 GHz) range, which is considered critical in supporting high-capacity 5G-led applications in the country.