India’s 5G spectrum auction was successfully completed last week, after 40 rounds of bidding. Over the period of one week, the Indian government amassed a total bid amount of ₹1,50,173 crore. Now, telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has asked telcos to prepare for the 5G launch in the country.
Vaishnaw took to Koo, India’s answer to Twitter, to announce that since the spectrum assignment letter has been issued, telcos can get ready for 5G launch.
Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Mittal praised the efficiency and quickness of the government in handing out the 5G spectrum allocation letter. Mittal said in a statement, “Airtel paid ₹8,312.4 crore towards spectrum dues and was provided with the allocation letter for the designated frequency bands within hours. E band allocation was given along with spectrum as promised. No Fuss, No Follow Up, No running around the corridors and No tall claims. This is the ease of doing business at work in its full glory.”
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Get the latest technology news, reviews, and opinions on tech products right into your inboxMittal added, “In my over 30 years of first-hand experience with DoT, this is a first! Business as it should be. Leadership at work-Right at the top and the helm of telecom. What a Change! Change that can transform this nation – power its dreams to be a developed nation.”
When Will 5G Launch In India?
Airtel has stated that it will be rolling out 5G services from August this year. The telco is planning to offer 5G in all towns and key rural areas in India by March 2024. The telecom service provider stated, “We intend to launch 5G starting August and extend to a Pan India roll out very soon. By March 2024 we believe we will be able to cover every town and key rural areas as well with 5G.”
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had announced that 5G services will first arrive in 13 cities—Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurugram, Ahmadabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jamnagar, and Gandhi Nagar.
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