They added that the rationale for inter-band spectrum and active infrastructure sharing also doesn’t exist in the near term as the top two telcos, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, are pursuing vastly different 5G strategies. This is since Jio has chosen the standalone (SA) mode for its countrywide 5G network rollout while Airtel has opted for the non-standalone (NSA) mode, which have very different global ecosystems.
Inter-band spectrum sharing is the pooling and sharing of airwaves between two or more operators in multiple bands in a particular market. At present, inter-band spectrum sharing is not allowed. Only intra-band, or sharing of airwaves between two operators within a specific band, is permitted.
Telco executives and analysts were responding to Trai’s latest paper seeking industry views on the need and provisions for inter-band spectrum sharing among operators as well as bandwidth leasing. The regulator has also sought views on whether active infrastructure sharing must be allowed across all telecom service licences/authorisations.
Active infrastructure sharing involves sharing of electronic elements of mobile networks, which can lead to optimisation of costs.
“Trai’s paper is somewhat outdated as spectrum scarcity is no longer a reality as telcos have acquired sufficient 4G and 5G airwaves in recent auctions, and going forward unsold spectrum in 600 MHz, 700 MHz and 3.3 GHz bands will also be available and possibly at lower reserve prices as has been the trend,” a top executive at one of the Big 3 telcos told ET.
He said there could have been a business case for inter-band spectrum sharing if the government had allowed it three years ago when there was a real need to acquire large chunks of 4G airwaves to meet pan-India network coverage and capacity needs.
Executives and analysts, though, said the situation could change if 5G adoption levels pick up and the devices ecosystem develops rapidly, requiring telcos to sharply increase network capacity by early-2024.
They added that lack of clarity around availability of mid-band spectrum beyond 3.8 GHz for 5G services could also make inter-band spectrum sharing more relevant in coming years. To be sure, some analysts have backed Trai’s call for inter-band spectrum sharing to ring in spectral efficiencies and boosting capacities in locations facing acute network congestion.
