Fuelling the growth of 5G and beyond

India can harness the power of 5G and unlock its economic benefits by addressing the spectrum requirements and nurturing the ecosystem

“There is a need for additional spectrum to meet the increasing demands of the mobile sector in India,” said Ashish Garg, Senior Manager – Spectrum and Policy, South Asia and APAC, GSMA. Speaking at the Voice&Data Telecom Leadership Forum, he highlighted the importance of the mid-band spectrum in augmenting 5G and beyond. He also shared insights and experiences from the GSM Association (GSMA).

Growing adoption of 5G

Garg began by highlighting the rapid global adoption of 5G technology. As of December 2022, around 237 operators in 91 markets had already launched 5G services. While North America and Europe are expected to witness the highest percentage of adoption, the Asia Pacific region, particularly India, will lead in terms of the number of 5G connections. Garg emphasised that India, despite being the 88th country to launch 5G services, is catching up quickly and is poised to make significant strides in 5G adoption.

Garg shed light on the status of low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrums and their respective roles in supporting 5G. While the low-band spectrum provides coverage and the high-band spectrum offers high capacity, the mid-band spectrum stands out as the hero of 5G. Its unique characteristics make it ideal for 5G rollouts, with extensive trials and launches already demonstrating its effectiveness. Garg stressed the importance of the mid-band spectrum in achieving the economic impact projected for 5G technology.

With extensive trials and launches demonstrating its unique characteristics and effectiveness, the mid-band spectrum is ideal for 5G rollout.

To cater to the future needs of 5G, Garg highlighted the requirement for an additional mid-band spectrum. According to a study conducted by GSMA intelligence, each market will need 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum by 2030. This spectrum allocation is crucial to unlocking the full potential of 5G and realising its economic benefits. “However, without the allocation of this additional spectrum, the expected benefits of 5G to the economy could be significantly reduced,” he stressed.

Role of the 6 GHz band

Garg emphasised the significance of the 6 GHz band in meeting the spectrum needs for 5G. With its vast capacity and similarities to the already allocated 3.5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band is well-suited for faster and cost-effective 5G rollouts. Garg advocated for its availability, citing its potential to boost the development of the 5G ecosystem, including device manufacturers and infrastructure providers.

Talking about the challenges and the market outlook, he pointed out that while some markets have already accounted for the required mid-band spectrum, there were challenges in making it available universally. “In the case of India, the coexistence of 4G and 5G connections until 2030 poses difficulties in reassigning existing spectrum bands,” he said. He also emphasised the importance of accessing the 6 GHz band to fulfil the mid-band spectrum needs effectively.

Garg’s keynote shed light on the crucial role of the mid-band spectrum in augmenting 5G and beyond. As 5G adoption continues to grow globally, it becomes imperative for governments and regulatory bodies to allocate additional spectrum to support the evolving needs of the mobile sector. The availability of the 6 GHz band, in particular, holds tremendous potential in facilitating faster and cost-effective 5G rollouts. By addressing the spectrum requirements and nurturing the 5G ecosystem, countries can harness the transformative power of 5G technology and unlock its substantial economic benefits.

josunj@cybermedia.co.in