Telcos urge government to auction entire 6GHz band for mobile use, warn against Wi-Fi split

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India’s top telecom operators — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea — along with their representative body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) have urged the government to auction the entire 6GHz band (1,200MHz) for licensed mobile communications, warning that splitting it with Wi-Fi and other unlicensed users could undermine India’s 6G ambitions.

In their submissions to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on its latest consultation paper for upcoming spectrum auctions, the operators argued that assigning the full 6GHz band to mobile services would enable India to take a global lead in next-generation networks, while supporting indigenous technology development.

The industry also called for steep cuts in spectrum base prices and for the validity of spectrum holdings to be extended to up to 40 years — from the current 20 — to ensure sustained investment and faster network expansion.

Reliance Jio has sought the entire 1,200MHz between 5.925–7.125GHz to be auctioned in a technology-neutral manner for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) use. The company termed the band the “anchor mid-band” for 5G and 6G, warning that splitting it — with 500MHz earmarked for Wi-Fi and 700MHz for mobile — would be “counterproductive and irreversible.”

Jio said the full band should be auctioned upfront, even if some parts are only available later once satellite users vacate them, to provide investment clarity. It proposed linking payments to the actual availability date and suggested a 5% upfront deposit to support satellite migration.

“India’s population density and data usage create a demand-density challenge unlike any other market…Each cell site must serve far more users than in the US or China. To maintain quality, operators need large, contiguous spectrum blocks — which only the 6GHz band can offer,” Jio said in its submission.

Bharti Airtel backed the full allocation of the 6GHz band for IMT services but recommended India-specific coexistence trials between mobile base stations and satellite uplink stations. It suggested these trials — led jointly by DoT, ISRO, TRAI, and telcos — should define interference limits and exclusion zones across varied terrains.

Airtel also recommended adopting the 3GPP n104 band plan and synchronization models used for the 3.3GHz and 26GHz bands. The operator reiterated its call to double the validity of spectrum licences to 40 years, saying this would “strengthen regulatory certainty, foster innovation, and safeguard India’s digital infrastructure.”

Vodafone Idea urged the government to reserve the 6425–7125MHz range solely for IMT services, arguing that this upper segment is “critical for the evolution of mobile broadband.” It proposed that 400MHz of this be auctioned immediately, following the 3GPP n104 plan, with a 10MHz block size and TDD configuration similar to the 3.3GHz band.

“Given its strategic importance, the upper 6GHz band should be reserved exclusively for licensed mobile use to ensure interference-free operation,” Vodafone Idea said.

DoT proposal faces pushback

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed auctioning only the upper 700MHz of the 6GHz band for mobile use, while delicensing the lower 500MHz for Wi-Fi. Telcos have strongly opposed this, saying such a division would limit 6G quality and coverage.

Operators noted that while 400MHz is immediately available, the rest will be freed by satellite users around 2030. They want a comprehensive auction framework covering the full 1,200MHz to give investors long-term visibility.

Telcos countered comparisons with the US, which has delicensed the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi, arguing that India’s population density (481 persons per sq. km) is three times that of China and 12 times that of the US. Fixed broadband penetration remains low — about 15 households per 100, compared to 95 in China and over 90 in developed economies.

“In India, wireless networks are the primary mode of broadband access,” Jio said. “This makes it crucial to reserve mid-band spectrum like 6GHz for mobile use to ensure network quality and affordability.”

Telcos seek lower base prices and longer payment terms

Alongside spectrum allocation, operators have sought steep reductions in reserve prices. Airtel’s chief regulatory officer Rahul Vatts said high base prices “keep valuable spectrum idle” and limit network expansion. Lower prices, he argued, would allow telcos to redirect capital toward 5G densification and rural coverage.

Reliance Jio proposed that TRAI set the reserve price at 50% of the current valuation — down from 70% — arguing that the present level discourages competitive bidding and leads to spectrum being sold near the floor price.

Airtel also urged for a six-year payment moratorium, followed by 14 equal annual instalments, noting that network monetisation typically takes four to five years.

Push for 40-year spectrum validity

Currently, spectrum licences last 20 years. The Union Cabinet had approved an extension to 30 years in 2021, but the decision was never implemented. Operators are now asking for 40 years, saying longer tenures would improve policy stability, ensure business viability, and enable long-term 6G investments.