Telecom operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio on Wednesday said the government should roll out adequate spectrum for 5G services in the country.

The demand follows recent reports that the government would be allocating only 175 MHz (3425 -3600 MHz) for 5G after ISRO and the Department of Space raised concerns about allowing the 3400-3425 MHz band for 5G as they need it for their applications. The government had earlier planned to allocate 300 MHz for 5G services.

Telecom operators said the current availability of just 175 MHz for all service providers in the 3300-3600 mid band is “grossly inadequate” and would adversely impact the 5G rollout in the country.

Jio’s president and group CTO-mobility, Shayam Mardikar, said the right amount of spectrum for 5G is a must in India considering the population density.

The quantum of spectrum available has to be the “right size as it impacts the differential experience. In some places where operators have launched 5G with the smaller tranche of spectrum, they are not able to offer a differential experience,” Randeep Sekhon, chief technology officer at Bharti Airtel, said.

Rajinder Singh, Vodafone Idea’s executive vice-president of technology, said contiguous spectrum in the right amount and the right band is crucial for the country’s 5G ambitions. The telecom players were taking part in a discussion during the ongoing India Mobile Congress.

COAI had recently urged the DoT to ensure at least 400 MHz per telco in mmwave bands (26, 28, 37 GHz) and at least 2x10MHz per operator in sub-GHz bands 600MHz and 700MHz.

Networking major Cisco said 100 million subscribers can afford 5G services in the country and demand from the enterprise market for 5G will encourage telecom operators to invest in the 5G market.

“Studies have shown that almost 10 to 12 per cent of the overall mobile subscribers today in India can afford a 5G service with a sizable increase in the ARPU to telcos. Over 100 million people can afford a 5G service... that’s a huge latent demand market for the telecom services providers to cash in on,” Anand Bhaskar, managing director, service providers, Cisco India & SAARC, said at the event.

.... Along with the enterprise market should sort of provide the right sort of fillip for the service provider to invest in the 5G market which they have already started doing,” Anand Bhaskar, managing director, service providers, Cisco India & SAARC said at the event.

Meanwhile, a senior DoT official said there is a need to bring in affordable pricing for the fifth-generation or 5G airwaves, as a part of the Centre's policy initiatives

"The policy initiatives required from the government for 5G must include ensuring spectrum availability at affordable prices, lower reserve price, and uniform Right-of-Way policy for fiberisation. Thus, there exists several new opportunities, and the future is bright and exciting," Bharat Kumar Jog, Member (Services) said.

Airtel had earlier said it would refrain from bidding for 5G spectrum if the reserve price was high. Telecom regulator Trai has recommended a floor price of Rs 492 crore per Mhz for spectrum in the 3,300-3,600 Mhz band. The Centre is yet to clear the air on the timing of India’s much awaited maiden 5G spectrum sale or the bands likely to be on offer.