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NEW DELHI: In a fresh set of demands to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s third term, the telecom industry has sought the identification of 6 GHz frequency band, non-commercial electric power transmission, and on-ground implementation of right of way (RoW) framework, for telecom services expansion in the country.
“Some of the few asks from the new government include allocation of 6 GHz spectrum band for 5G/IMT services. There is a need for industrial/utility electricity tariff rates for telecom infrastructure,” SP Kochhar, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) told ETTelecom.
Delhi-based telecom industry group represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
“We believe that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) should constitute a committee to consider the updated ITU Radio Regulations (RR) to formulate the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) to include this (6GHz) band for IMT services,” he said.
Telecom operators have been demanding the 6 GHz radio waves essentially for the expansion of next-generation (5G) services in the country, and further cautioned that any move otherwise could put the industry’s continued 5G network investments vulnerable.
However, the department has yet to take a call on the frequency band despite the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) designating a portion or up to 100 MHz in the band for commercial telephony services in Region 1.
The proponents of Wi-Fi or a section of tech companies have been arguing that the band should be delicensed for public Wi-Fi services, a demand strongly opposed by telcos, saying that the spectrum for public utility would not be fully utilised.
“COAI has, on multiple occasions, pointed out that delicensing is an irreversible process and once done, the spectrum could not be availed back for meaningful use.”
London-based top telco group GSMA too echoed similar views, and called upon the Indian government to identify and include 6 GHz radio waves in national spectrum strategy for the telecom sector.
COAI’s Kochhar also said that the high cost of commercial grid electricity tariffs remained a challenge in meeting the rising power demands to keep telecom towers up and running.
“Telcos face hurdles in expanding networks and delivering quality services due to exorbitant electricity charges.”
In a study, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said that high-cost of grid power constitutes nearly 25% of the operational expenses for telecom service providers.
Some of the other demands of telecom carriers include “on-ground adoption” of right-of-way (RoW) rules, amended in 2023, by local authorities.
Kochhar also said that it is high time for the government to rationalise electromagnetic field (EMF) norms in line with the worldwide standards.
“With the use of low-distance higher frequencies at work in 5G, the constrained EMF exposure limits in India pose an additional challenge in providing quality services and experience to consumers.”
The country’s existing norms for EMF emissions from mobile towers are ten fold more stringent than the safe limits prescribed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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