Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea oppose direct allocation of 5G spectrum to TCS and other corporate entities

• India’s major telecom providers have opposed the allocation of 5G spectrum to corporate entities.
• The telcos have claimed that this offers an undue advantage to the companies and robs the government, too.
• The telecom operators have claimed that they are capable of offering customizable solutions in an economic manner.

The ongoing battle between telecom companies and corporate entities over the allocation of 5G spectrum for private captive networks has taken another turn as leading telcos, Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea have claimed that such a move would provide back door entry to private companies and rob the government.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) that represents the country’s largest telcos Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea said that there is “no justification whatsoever” for allocating spectrum to private companies.

The group has said that the telcos are fully capable of offering customizable solutions in an economic manner and there is non need to directly provide spectrum to private companies. They said that this would cut into the revenues of licensed service providers, create a non-level playing field and offer undue advantage at the cost of the government exchequer.

“We are of the firm opinion that notwithstanding any advancement of technologies, there is no justification whatsoever for allocating spectrum to industry verticals for operating private captive networks,” the COAI said in a statement.

“The licensed Access Service Providers are fully capable of providing all customized solutions including M2M / Industrial 4.0 services in the most competitive and economic manner,” COAI added.

TCS vs Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea behind delay in 5G spectrum auction

The fight between telecom operators and corporate entities like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has once again delayed the 5G spectrum auction, which is already behind schedule.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) submitted its recommendations, which were approved by the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on May 17. The cabinet is yet to approve TRAI’s proposals and it usually takes around 45 days from approval to begin the auctions

The 5G spectrum auctions were expected to take place in June after numerous delays, but even that seems to be far-fetched now.

“We request the government not to reserve or de-license any spectrum which has been identified or likely to be identified for use of IMT/ commercial services for Private Captive Networks. It amounts to undue advantage to private commercial entities at the cost of government exchequer,” COAI added in its statement.

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