Telcos push for auction for 6GHz band, Big Tech want the band delicensed

After fighting over spectrum for captive private networks, telecom firms and tech companies are now locked in a fresh tussle over 6 GHz airwaves that offer 5G- like broadband speeds. Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm and Vodafone Idea want the 6 GHz band to be auctioned, saying it is useful for commercial deployment of 5G services as well as for 5.5G and 6G in the future. Technology firms, represented by the Broadband India Forum (BIF), want the same band allotted without auctions for WIFI services, which are typically offered on unlicensed spectrum.

Why it’s important: As boundaries blur between telos and tech firms, expect such conflicts to rise in coming days. 6GHz band is a mid-band spectrum that has been opened up for unlicensed use in many countries. The Indian government’s stance on it is yet unclear. Moneycontrol