Govt approves refarming 687 MHz spectrum for telecom

New Delhi

The government has approved the refarming of 687 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum for the telecom industry, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Friday. This decision is expected to speed up the rollout of 5G services across the country and lay the groundwork for 6G technology.

At the Cellular Operators Association of India’s (COAI) ‘Digicom Summit’ in Delhi, Scindia stated that 320 MHz of spectrum would be made available immediately, with the remainder expected by 2028–29. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the telecom sector’s future needs, including 4G, 5G, and 6G services.

The government’s approval follows a committee of secretaries tasked with identifying unused or underutilized spectrum across various ministries. Scindia emphasized that any spectrum not being put to productive use would be redirected to the telecom industry.

The refarming is seen as a significant step toward enhancing the nation's telecom infrastructure, enabling better 5G coverage nationwide. The COAI praised the government for acknowledging the need for 2,000 MHz of spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) services, an allocation now in progress.

Scindia also highlighted the telecom sector's vital role in India's economic growth, contributing 7% to the GDP, and stated that the sector would play a key role in global economic development in the future.