6 GHz showdown: Jio picks holes in Meta's $3 tn math

The debate over how India should allocate the highspeed 6 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum is only getting shriller as the auctions are expected next year.

- Jatin Grover

Telcos require the 6 GHz band for 5G and 6G.

(REUTER)

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd has now challenged Meta Inc's estimate that opening the lower end of the band without a licence could generate $3 trillion in economic value for India over 10 years.

A licence-free use could immediately pave the way for next-generation Wi-Fi6E and WiFi 7 technologies and gadgets such as Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro or new smart glasses from Apple or Meta.

However, telecom operators require the 6 GHz band to support future high-speed and high-capacity network needs for 5G and 6G.

The department of telecommunications (DoT) has proposed to carve out a portion (500 MHz) of the 6 GHz band for licence-free use. It has also suggested bringing the remaining 700 MHz spectrum under auction for telecom operators. But 300 MHz of this will be available for auction only by December 2030, when it is vacated by existing users such as satellite and defence authorities.

Both Big Tech companies and telecom operators want the entire 1,200 MHz for their respective use only.