GSMA urges India to allocate 5G spectrum in 6 GHz band for enhanced mobile services

The GSMA, a global telecom industry organisation, has urged India to allocate 5G spectrum in the 6 GHz band for mobile services. According to GSMA Director General Mats Granryd, this spectrum is the last large contiguous block available in the mid-frequency range, and its allocation would be advantageous for India, aligning with the preferences of several other countries. Granryd highlighted the potential benefits of utilising the 6 GHz band, emphasising that it provides additional capacity and allows for lower network rollout costs compared to higher frequency bands.

In a letter to Union Telecom Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Granryd expressed concerns about India's stance at the World Radiocommunication Conferences 2023 (WRC-23), where negotiations are taking place under the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). He noted that the Indian position contradicts the growing consensus among countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Russian Federation, Brazil, Mexico, and key Asia-Pacific nations regarding the use of the 6 GHz band for addressing 5G capacity requirements.

Granryd urged Vaishnaw's intervention to align India with the global consensus, emphasising the importance of supporting the 6 GHz band for the development of 5G equipment ecosystems. He underscored that this alignment is crucial for India's digital goals and its role in the global telecommunications industry. Granryd expressed optimism that the timely intervention by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under Vaishnaw's leadership could lead to a resolution and contribute to India's position as a leading global supplier of advanced telecom technologies under the "Bharat 6G Vision."

(With PTI Inputs)