New Delhi
COAI said that the recommended base price of 5G radiowaves is nearly 30-40 per cent higher than the rates in markets like South Korea and the US. “Majority of our operators have indicated that 5G spectrum is far too prohibitively expensive and that their balance sheets can’t afford this,” Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) Director General, Rajan Mathews told reporters on the sidelines of 5G spectrum policy workshop organised by the industry body.
The Government made it clear that it plans to go ahead with spectrum auction, including for 5G radiowaves, in the current calender year. The new Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also set a deadline of 100 days for starting the 5G trials in the country.
“Majority of our operators believe that the spectrum for 5G is overpriced by at least 30-40 per cent compared to international standards and auction in other markets like South Korea and the US,” Mathews said. He further said that incentives should be build into the spectrum price, given that 5G services in the country will also aim to serve social goals.
Base price of 5G radiowaves is nearly 30-40% higher than rates in South Korea and US: COAI
