5G rollout unviable if captive private networks allowed, telcos tell govt

Telcos point to global trends and contend that 40 per cent of 5G revenues are expected from the enterprise segment and captive 5G networks will make 5G rollout unviable

The Cellular Operators Associa­tion of India (COAI) has bluntly told the government there is no reason for its members to roll out 5G networks as they will be unviable if ‘captive private wireless networks’ are allowed to be run by enterprises.

The COAI, which has Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea as its key members, has written to Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw saying there is ‘no business case for the roll out of 5G networks’.

Permitting such captive networks will ‘diminish the revenue so much that there will be no viable business case left for the telecom service providers and there