Coronavirus impact: As data usage jumps, telcos ask govt for more spectrum

With people staying at home, data usage has grown considerably and telecom networks are feeling the pressure

Telecom operators have demanded additional spectrum urgently on a temporary basis from the government, with traffic surging 15-20 per cent from Sunday.

They say such a move will help them cope up with the unprecedented increase in data usage as a result of “work from home” and “self-quarantine” across the country.

A senior executive of a telco that saw a spike in data traffic, said: “We saw a huge spurt of 15-20 per cent in dense areas on Sunday, when there was a call by the Prime Minister to stay home.” Last week, the traffic stood at only 10 per cent, according