GSMA urges telecom dept to include 6GHz band in next spectrum auctions

The mid-band spectrum is crucial as it provides city-wide capacity, making it essential for widespread and cost-effective 5G deployments

The GSM Association (GSMA), the global telco body, has urged the department of telecommunications (DoT) to send a reference to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to include the 6 GHz band, along with any other band made available for IMT, in the upcoming spectrum auction process.

GSMA said the move will ensure that all necessary IMT spectrum bands—across mid-band and high-band frequencies—are made available together, facilitating a more comprehensive and efficient spectrum strategy.

“While we acknowledge the importance of making high-band mmWave spectrum available for IMT services, we would like to emphasise that the need for mid-band spectrum in India is equally, if not more critical. Mid-band spectrum, including in the 6 GHz band, is necessary to ensure a balanced and effective expansion of 5G, and deployment of future IMT technologies,” Jeanette Whyte, head of public policy, APAC at GSMA said in a letter to DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal.

Moneycontrol has reviewed a copy of the letter dated March 26.

GSMA, a global organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators and the broader mobile ecosystem and works to drive innovation, policy, and standards in mobile connectivity, previously highlighted in its submission to the TRAI that relying solely on high-band spectrum will not be sufficient to meet the evolving needs of mobile networks.

“The GSMA has consistently advocated for a holistic approach to spectrum management that includes allocations across all spectrum ranges—low, mid, and high bands—to ensure optimal
network performance and user experience,” Whyte said.

The mid-band spectrum is crucial as it provides city-wide capacity, making it essential for widespread and cost-effective 5G deployments, especially in urban and suburban environments. As 5G adoption grows and data traffic continues to increase, demand for more mid-band spectrum will intensify.

By 2030, countries will need an average of 2 GHz of mid-band spectrum for reliable, high-quality 5G services. The 6.425-7.125 GHz range, which several countries identified for IMT at WRC-23, will be essential for 5G expansion and the future development of mobile networks.

“Thus, it is important for India to start planning for this band now,” Whyte said.

The Union Cabinet recently approved the reframing of additional spectrum across various bands, including the 6 GHz band, with a view to making it available for IMT services, Moneycontrol reported exclusively on January 16.

“We commend the DoT’s efforts in expanding the supply of IMT spectrum, particularly the 6 GHz band for next-generation mobile services. The 6 GHz band will play a pivotal role in India’s leadership in 6G development and deployment,” Whyte said.

However, TRAI in its February 4 recommendations could not address the mid-band spectrum requirements, possibly due to the limited scope of DoT’s reference to the TRAI, covering only high frequency ranges 37-37.5 GHz, 37.5-40 GHz, and 42.5-43.5 GHz, earlier.

Whyte said many leading economies are taking proactive steps to identify and utilise the 6 GHz band for IMT, recognizing its importance for next-generation mobile services.

“Ensuring sufficient mid-band spectrum availability will position India as a global leader in 6G innovation, fostering investment, enhancing digital infrastructure, and driving socioeconomic benefits. Therefore, ensuring its timely availability at reasonable conditions and prices is crucial,” Whyte added.

Recent studies and field trials have demonstrated that the 6 GHz spectrum supports 5G growth while laying the foundation for 6G advancements.

GSMA Intelligence estimates that 5G could contribute INR 36.4 trillion ($455 billion) to the Indian economy between 2023 and 2040, with a significant portion of these benefits arising from key economic sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, education, and smart city applications.

“The GSMA believes that the inclusion of the 6 GHz band in the upcoming auctions will be instrumental in strengthening India's digital economy and maintaining its competitive edge, thereby supporting its ambition to become a global hub for advanced telecommunications technology,” Whyte said.