Digital solution providers looking to enter 5G play

Digital solution providers to enterprises are evaluating whether to bid for 5G spectrum, a move which could bring in more players to add to the only three mobile telecom providers in the game: Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea.

- SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

At least one of them, Tata Communications, has been a strong votary of allowing internet service providers (ISPs) - it has a licence - to be allowed to bid for 5G spectrum so that they can offer 5G broadband services to their enterprise customers and compete with telcos.

When asked if it was considering bidding for the 5G spectrum, a Tata Communications spokesperson declined to comment.

Along with Tata, other digital solution providers such as Amazon AWS, Google, and hyper-scale data centre companies, offer a slew of services such as cloud computing, high reliable internet services, and security solutions. Under the current rules, ISPS can bid, of course, but they have to pay for, and obtain a UASL licence. This can be a stumbling block.

According to sources helping enterprise solution providers, they are looking at the viability of going in for limited circles which have a concentration of companies. These include Delhi and Mumbai, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and perhaps Gujarat.