India’s news media outlets are reporting that there may be government interest in reallocating some broadcasting spectrum for use in 5G networks.
Specifically, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) is looking at a proposal to allocate 100MHz in the mid-band spectrum (3700-3800MHz) for 5G services.
While this would be useful for operators, who would no doubt welcome extra spectrum options (assuming the spectrum is usable and reasonably priced), it could also benefit the government, which would generate revenue from any auction.
The Economic Times news service says that in the 2022 auction, the department of telecommunications (DoT) had put up for auction mid-band airwaves in the 3300MHz to 3630MHz range. The 3630-3670MHz range has been reserved for state-run telecom operator BSNL. The 3670-3700MHz range acts as a guard band to prevent interference with broadcasting.
Spectrum in the 3700MHz to 4200MHz range is being used by the department of space (DoS), a number of ministries, and broadcasting which had, until recently, opposed moves to take away mid-band spectrum for 5G services.
Now, however, the broadcasting ministry is getting comment from companies in the broadcast sector on the proposal to give up 100MHz in mid-band – apparently used for downlinking TV channels at the moment – for 5G services.
Change probably won’t happen quickly. The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), which promotes the collective interests of television and digital media platforms as well as other key industry players from the media and entertainment sector, has been asked to help the ministry in ascertaining the feasibility and cost implications to the broadcasting industry of switching 100MHz of spectrum.
According to some reports this won’t leave broadcasting short of spectrum as the DoT apparently wants to shift the broadcasting firms from the 3700-4000MHz band to the 4000-4200MHz band.
The DoT certainly seems determined to do something with bandwidth above 3300MHZ; last year it apparently rejected the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI’s) proposal to reserve 40MHz in the 3700-3800MHz band for captive private networks, suggesting that the entire mid-band – from 3300MHz to 4000MHz – is best suited for 5G services.
