Telecom service providers against administrative allocation of 6G bands

6G adoption to eclipse 5G and lead to convergence of satcom and terrestrial networks

Telecom service providers (TSPs) are against the administrative allocation of any 6G band, when the government opens it up for use.
 

Recent media reports have suggested that the department of telecommunications (DoT) is keen to seek the views of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on opening up of spectrum in the 95 gigahertz (GHz)-3 terahertz (THz) frequency range for free allocation.

This would help develop new technologies like 6G-driven products and solutions.

But TSPs believe that this and other key 6G bands should be auctioned, as had been done in the past. These will be integral to the development of their own 6G upgradation plans in the near future, they told Business Standard.
 

“While 6G technology is expected to be based on the same 5G infrastructure, it will provide yet another major jump in ultra high speed internet connectivity. The use cases for 6G would be the same as 5G. They would be healthcare, logistics or process automation or collaborative robotics in manufacturing,” an industry executive said.
 

However, it is widely believed that 6G adoption will be far faster than 5G as users would be more comfortable with the technology, he added. Telcos don’t want to get left out of the process.
 

“All telecom companies would love to get access to 6G bands as soon as possible so that initial experimentation can begin. Even before 5G coverage reaches optimal levels, companies should be in a position to begin preparing for 6G trials and roll out. But a simple administrative allocation would not be fair,” another executive said.
 

Reports had said the move may allow academic institutions, research organisations and the industry to obtain airwaves. They can undertake studies with a pre-standardisation process.
 

In the recent past, telcos have intensified their efforts against any move allowing administrative allocation of spectrum for private 5G networks.
 

The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) has stressed this would be fundamentally against the principles of level-playing field. It added that this provides a backdoor entry to big technology players to provide 5G services and solutions to enterprises in India. It comes without equivalent regulatory compliance and payment of levies that TSPs are subjected to.

It also demanded restricting the scope of such private networks for only machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and plant automation within the premises of a plant.

6G push

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction, India is targeting the roll out of a 6G network by the end of the decade, officials said.

Given how 6G is expected to serve as a convergence platform for satcom and Terrestrial Networks, DoT has said that India is aiming to take part in the setting of 6G standards and pursuing technical innovations.

Back in November 2021, the government had formed a 22-member innovation group headed by telecom secretary K Rajaraman to create a vision for 6G roadmap in India.

Subsequently, six academia-driven task forces had been set up under the Technology Innovation Group (TIG). They were to identify the technological and industrial opportunities of 6G technology.

The DoT has also focused on increasingly using the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for research in design-led manufacturing in 5G advanced, and 6G technologies.

The latest push towards opening up 6G airwaves is a part of India’s efforts to attain a key toehold in the global supply chain.

It is for emerging technology such as satellite and terrestrial communication gear and components.