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.
Impact of the 2024 Spectrum Auction on Competitive Dynamics and 5G Potential in India
On June 26, 2024, India concluded its 9th Spectrum auction since 2010. These auctions have allocated substantial spectrum across various...
