Tech spectrum tussle: US majors push Wi-Fi use for entire 6GHz band as Jio, Vi seek mobile allocation; Airtel, Qualcomm call for deferment
In a joint response to Trai’s consultation paper for the next round of spectrum auctions, the companies said technical and commercial readiness in the 6GHz band “is not established” for mobile services and asked the government to avoid setting timelines for auction of the 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz ranges.“We do not recommend setting timelines for any future auction of the 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz ranges for IMT… TRAI, together with the Department of Telecommunications, should review the allocation of the upper 6 GHz band following the outcomes of WRC-27,” the joint submission said, adding that any unused upper 6GHz spectrum should be made available for unlicensed use in the interim.The government has said 400 MHz of 6GHz spectrum is immediately available for auction, an additional 300 MHz will be available by 2030, and 500 MHz in the lower band will be delicensed for low-power applications such as Wi-Fi.Jio has demanded inclusion of the entire 1200 MHz available in the 6GHz band in the auction, even though the government has decided to delicense 500 MHz in the lower range.
Vodafone Idea has sought the sale of 400 MHz currently available for use.
Airtel has asked the government to defer auction of the 6GHz band due to concerns over device availability, equipment readiness and global harmonisation.Qualcomm echoed similar concerns, stating, “The upper 6 GHz band is critical for mobile growth in India… By deferring the auction… until after WRC-27, India safeguards its 6G future, aligns with global standards, and honours its leadership aspirations.”Telecom industry body COAI, whose members include Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea, opposed delicensing.
“Delicensing is misleading and counterproductive… Licensed IMT spectrum ensures quality-of-service, predictable performance and nationwide scalability,” COAI said, warning that allowing unlicensed Wi-Fi deployments could reduce exchequer revenues and give “disproportionate advantage to foreign OTT players”.The newly identified 6425-6725 MHz and 6725-7125 MHz bands form part of the upper 6GHz range, while the 5925-6425 MHz band has been earmarked for unlicensed low-power applications.
