India to launch 5G services soon

New Delhi: India is all geared up to introduce 5G services. The spectrum auction for 5G services will commence on July 26, 2022.

"The beginning of a new era for Indian Telecom. 5G spectrum auction announced," tweeted Indian Telecom and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday.

Around 72 GHz of radio waves will be put on the block by the end of July.

The Union Cabinet had earlier approved modalities for holding a 5G spectrum auction. Private Captive Networks will also be introduced for the innovation of new-age industry applications like machine-to-machine communications, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) across automotive, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and other sectors, the cabinet said.

"Moving forward with PM @narendramodi ji's vision of a Digital India. Spectrum auction announced today is an integral part of developing #BharatKa5G ecosystem," also added Vaishnaw in her tweet.

The government will soon set up Private Captive Networks following the telecom reforms agenda.

72097.85 MHz is the maximum range of the spectrum that can be put in the Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) E-auction. In this, 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands are the currently available spectrums.

TRAI, which has approved the auction at reserve prices, has also recommended a 39 per cent cut in reserve prices of 5G spectrum for mobile services.

A Financial Bank Guarantee (FBG) and Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) should be submitted by a bidder for the auction that will be assigned for 20 years once approved.