Reliance Jio, India’s foremost telecom operator, underscored the significance of the 6 GHz spectrum for both introducing 6G technology and ensuring comprehensive 5G coverage across the nation in its response to the consultation paper titled “Digital Transformation through 5G Ecosystem”.
In its submissions, Jio emphasized that the 6 GHz spectrum holds pivotal importance for the successful deployment of 5G services throughout India. The telecom giant cautioned against the delicensing of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi services, a move advocated by various technology companies aiming to leverage the spectrum for nationwide Wi-Fi coverage.
Repeatedly, Jio, in collaboration with the GSM Association, has stressed the criticality of the 6 GHz spectrum for enabling robust 5G networks. Given the current limitations in available mid-bandwidth, especially for providing expansive 5G coverage across India, the 6 GHz spectrum emerges as a key resource.
Jio proposed that the entire 6 GHz band, amounting to 1200 MHz (from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz), should be designated for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) services. This allocation would ensure that each Telecommunication Service Provider (TSP) receives approximately 300-400 MHz of spectrum, facilitating the growth of 5G networks and paving the way for the introduction of 6G services.