Telcos Oppose Direct Spectrum Award for Private 5G Networks

Telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have renewed their opposition to the Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) latest move to reassess demand for direct spectrum allocation.

- Jatin Grover

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents private telecom service providers, maintains that allowing enterprises to directly obtain spectrum for private 5G networks is neither viable nor secure within the Indian context.

According to the association, such a move could undermine national revenue, disrupt the security framework, and create an uneven playing field for licensed operators.