Bharti has steadfastly communicated to its stakeholders, including investors, that it does not consider the 700 MHz band critical for its 5G deployment ambitions. Nonetheless, the absence of a low-frequency spectrum has sparked industry speculation regarding Bharti’s ability to deploy 5G Standalone (SA) architecture, essential for NR-Voice activation and harnessing advanced 5G features dependent on the User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policy. Detractors have criticized Bharti’s 5G strategy as incomplete, casting doubts on its ability to fully exploit 5G’s capabilities. This document aims to clarify how Bharti could smartly navigate the upcoming spectrum auction in India, capitalizing on the 800 and 900 MHz bands to assemble a continuous 10 MHz block suitable for 5G, thus providing a pragmatic and economical alternative to pursuing the same in the 600 MHz band. Such an approach promises to expedite Bharti’s transition to 5G SA, circumventing the unpredictability and potential expense tied to the 600 MHz spectrum’s future availability. Given the 700 MHz band’s unavailability (with the remaining 10 MHz expected to be allocated to railways), Bharti’s strategic decisions are critical for its 5G trajectory.
800 MHz Band Map
To demonstrate how Bharti can strategically use the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands to form a contiguous 10 MHz block for 5G SA deployment across most service areas, it’s essential to present a clear band map. This map will serve as a foundational reference, illustrating Bharti’s current spectrum holdings and potential pathways to consolidate these frequencies into a single block. Let’s Begin with the 800 MHz band map.
