Articles
5G Spectrum to Private Companies
Dt: 10/6/22
5G Spectrum to Private Companies
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
TRAI’s and possibly DOT’s view that some slices of 5 G radio spectrum may be allotted to private companies for their captive communications ( without interconnection with public networks of private telephone companies and BSNL/MTNL) is being opposed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) comprising chiefly Reliance Jio, Bharati Air Tel an d Vodafone-Idea . The COAI’s opposition is unreasonable and not really in public interest.
2. Large companies with all -India operations do need efficient, reliable within - the - company communications. Even the government of India in Delhi has such a private, multi-site communication system called RAX. Many companies are having private automatic exchanges (PAXs in their offices. The Bombay Stock Exchange ( BSE) and National Stock Exchange are having multicity, VSAT satellite networks. It is therefore logical that companies with multi city operations are licenced to have private 5G spectrum -using communications . It may affect the revenue-earning opportunity of COAI member companies, as well as BSNL and MTNL. Government’s public policy cannot be for protecting some companies’ revenues, even if it means denial of sinews of efficient and economic operation of some other companies.
3. The COAI repeats the wrong notion that spectrum is a limited and finite resource it is neither. Radio spectrum is not created by government; companies create it. It is unlimited and inexhaustible because it can be re-used again and again in spatially distributed areas, all facilitated by information technology (IT). Just as vehicular transportation on cities’ roads is governed by traffic regulation systems and policemen, government should regulate the use of spectrum so that the same slice is not used by more than one service provider, in the same service area. The cost of such regulation should be collected from the service providers.
4. Sunlight is used to produce electricity. It is not produced by government and so it does not auction sunlight. So should radio -spectrum not generated by government should not be auctioned .
5. The COAI should use its intellectual and business might to persuade government not to auction radio spectrum that it does not create and thus inflate the cost of 5G services to users. Just as air and water are essential for life and so should not be auctioned or priced highly to generate revenues for government, radio-spectrum is essential for digital India, for information society in which people communicate for work and commute for pleasure should not be auctioned and so priced highly to make it less affordable. Radio spectrum is inexhaustible; it can be regenerated and like air and water should be for use by all at least cost.
6. COAI or any interests thwarting allotment of slices of 5G spectrum to companies for internal communications is unreasonable. (436 words)
END