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NEW DELHI: Finnish telecom company Nokia<\/a> is in discussions with Adani Data Networks<\/a> to deploy a fifth generation or 5G<\/a> non-public network using the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band, for a host of businesses particularly mining, sea ports and airports management.
\"Nokia is in touch with Adani<\/a> Data Networks to establish 5G-backed networks for their captive use across business areas focussing on ports and mining verticals,\" a person familiar with the matter said.
In a recently-held spectrum auction<\/a>, Ahmedabad-based multinational and diversified conglomerate headed by Gautam Adani's subsidiary purchased 400 MHz airwaves in the 26 GHz (mmWave) for Rs 212-crore becoming the sole non-telco entity to have bought radiowaves.
Adani Data Networks purchased 100 MHz each in Gujarat and Mumbai circles, and 50 MHz each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, and has also sought a universal access services licence (UASL) for these circles.
The group's business spans from electric power generation, renewable energy and natural gas to port management, mining operations, airport management and food processing in these states.
A private or captive network is an extension to a wireless technology<\/a> for the creation of a dedicated local area network (LAN) within a specific premise or business facility for seamless connectivity needs, and is restricted to offer services outside.
Queries to Adani group and Nokia did not elicit any response.
Pekka Lundmark-headed Nokia offers an industrial-grade private 5G network for digital transformation of companies.
\"This (captive network) is a growing opportunity, and one of the ideal use cases for 5G,\" Mahesh Uppal, director, ComFirst India said.
The opportunity for gear vendors or system integrators, according to him, may not be huge since the use is limited to a few locations where Adani group has bought airwaves but putting together, it can be closer to Rs 100-crore.
Uppal further said that spectrum in the 26 GHz band encourages companies or enterprises to set up their captive networks following its limited-range coverage properties, and cost-effective spectrum price as recommended by the sector regulator.