India 5G spectrum price expensive, says Ericsson

NEW DELHI: Sweden’s Ericsson has termed the 5G spectrum suggested by India’s telecom regulator as “expensive”, and stressed that the country should aim for longer term economic benefits from the next gen technology even if it means lower one-time upfront revenue.

“The proposed reserve price for 5G airwaves in India is expensive, given the health of the telecom players in India. If the aim is to ensure everyone gets access to 5G, telcos need spectrum at fair and reasonable price,” Nunzio Mirtillo, head of South East Asia, Oceania and India for Ericsson, told ET.

He said that ensuring all telcos get access to 5G spectrum would yield much richer dividends for the economy through digitalisation, Internet of Things, leading to efficiencies which would eventually translate into faster income.