Split view on 5G spectrum

Govt wants to hold 5G auctions soon but telecom companies are stretched financially

Analysts say 4G spectrum made mobile internet speeds up to 500 times faster than 3G and allowed high definition TV on mobile, high–quality video calls and faster browsing(Shutterstock)

The government has lined up 5G spectrum auction in another nine months with rollouts in 2020, but a cash-strapped industry is not prepared for the new technology even as it concentrates on 4G. Vodafone Idea, among others, has urged the telecom department not to hold the auction till 2020.

“Trai has given a preliminary set of recommendations, which the working committee at the department of telecommunications is looking at.

“The task force has also given a broader set of (spectrum) bands on which we have to work. Everybody has said that since the ecosystem is not ready, 5G will be ready after July-August next year,” telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan said here on the sidelines of a workshop.

The government wants to hold 5G auctions as soon as possible as it sees it as a money-spinner. However, most telecom companies are stretched financially because of an ongoing tariff war ever since Reliance Jio entered the market.

Analysts say 4G spectrum made mobile internet speeds up to 500 times faster than 3G and allowed high definition TV on mobile, high–quality video calls and faster browsing.