Telcos say spectrum available in mid-band for 5G grossly inadequate; want 80MHz per telco

NEW DELHI: Indian telecom operators are asking the telecom department to ensure optimum availability of spectrum in the 3300-3600 mid band earmarked for 5G services. They said that the current availability of just 175 MHz for all service providers is “grossly inadequate” and would adversely impact the 5G rollout in the country.

“We have been taking up these issues with DoT/WPC regularly. We have been requesting DoT to kindly recognize the importance of the 3300-3600 MHz band for 5G, and thus, this band should be protected and exclusively used for 5G services,” SP Kochhar, DG, COAI, told ET. “Presently, the availability of only 175 MHz spectrum in the 3300 MHz band is grossly inadequate.”