Spectrum refarming: 320 MHz spectrum will be available immediately, says Scindia

Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia Friday said that 320 MHz of spectrum would be immediately available following the Cabinet’s nod for spectrum refarming to address the needs of 2030.

“320 MHz spectrum will be released immediately, some by the end of next year, and some by the end of 2028-29, which makes us ready for 2030,” Scindia said, adding that the country would require as much as 2000 MHz of spectrum as per the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).

The minister was speaking at Digicom Summit – 2025, organised by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

“Now, between 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G, we have roughly about 900 megahertz (MHz). That means that we have a deficit of 1100 megahertz (MHz) spectrum by 2030, not today,” he said.

Following the study conducted by the Department of Telecommunications, the idle frequency waves with the telecom service providers, would be refarmed or reused for mobile applications.

On Thursday, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the refarming of more than 1100 MHz of spectrum from various ministries and departments, including Defence, and Information and Broadcasting, to bolster the country’s telecom infrastructure.

“687 megahertz of spectrum to be reformed which takes us from 900 MHz to 1587 MHz,” Scindia said, and added that there would still be a gap of around 313 MHz of radio waves.

Further, he said that the second round of the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) would look into it, and come out with a report soon, to ensure continued growth of the country’s digital telecom landscape.

The recently-approved spectrum refarming of 1100 MHz would enable fifth generation or 5G rollout with better services to nearly 1.20 billion subscribers, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) in a statement said.

Delhi-based COAI represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.

Scindia also said that India rolled out next generation or 5G services earning a distinction of fastest rollout worldwide.

“It was possible in 22 months. With 4.5 lakh BTSes, 99% of districts covered, and 82% of population covered about purity.”

The minister also said that India embarked on Atmanirbhar (self-reliance) ambition which was challenging.

“There are only four countries in the world that have this technology. It took us a little over two years,” he added.

“70,000 towers have been commissioned with our target of 100,000 towers for BSNL by May or June of this year, with our own domestic technology.”

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is deploying homegrown fourth generation (4G) technology supplied by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-led consortium with core developed by state-controlled Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).