Kolkata: Bharti Airtel<\/a> may need to go for a spectrum sharing pact with Vodafone Idea<\/a> (Vi) in some key markets to plug gaps and overcome service restrictions to deliver quality 5G<\/a> services on the crucial C-band (read: 3.3-3.67 GHz), two people aware of the matter said.
Airtel<\/a>, however, downplayed these challenges, saying the issues are restricted to very small areas.
The challenges in question, as highlighted by experts, in deploying 5G services in the C-band in eight circles are two-pronged: one, there are 5G service restrictions in parts of the C-band (from 3.3-3.4 GHz) near the border areas in some circles (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Northeast, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh - West); and two, the non-availability of 30 units of 5G airwaves (from 3.4-3.43 GHz) in key locations in Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Northeast and Rajasthan, these people said.
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“A possible solution that Airtel could explore is sharing C-band airwaves with Vi to create a continuous block of 80 MHz in big markets such as Karnataka, Kerala, MP and Rajasthan to ensure unhindered and quality 5G coverage on the C-band airwaves,” one of people cited told ET.
Airtel has pan-India 5G airwaves in the C-band while Vi has the same in 17 circles. But due to the mix of service exclusion zones and spectrum non-availability in some locations, Airtel will have unrestricted access to its full quota of 100 units of C-band airwaves (3.4-3.5 GHz) in only 14 out of the 22 circles. As a result, spectrum sharing with Vi is seen as a solution to plug gaps in other circles.
Airtel, though, said there are no significant challenges.
“The exclusion zones are restricted to a few villages around the border and six small towns, which constitute a very small area (and population) as compared to the total area of spectrum allocation,” an Airtel spokesman said in a written response to ET’s queries.
The company added that the exclusion zones would still be covered with more than 70 units of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band – out of a total 100 units won – in addition to a large quantum of spectrum available in other bands.
Queries to Vi remained unanswered as of press time Thursday.
Industry<\/a> experts said that in the Northeast, where there is a combination of border area service exclusion zones and non-availability of C-band spectrum, Airtel won’t be able to share airwaves with Vi as the latter does not have C-band in the circle. Rules allow spectrum sharing between telcos when both have same airwaves in the same band in the same circle.
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