Cambodia’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunication has reportedly promised that the ministry is preparing to launch 5G technology in in the “near future” to support the country’s digital ambitions.
Moreover, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have adequate airwave holdings and have almost concluded their countrywide 5G rollouts while cash-strapped Vodafone Idea (Vi) is yet to close its pending fundraise.
Department Of Telecommunications: Telecom operators anticipate increased demand for spectrum with the wider adoption of 5G technology. To meet this demand, refarming of spectrum is necessary to ensure an adequate supply for 5G and 6G use.
The mop-up is likely to be made possible due to improving financial health of the telecom sector, leading to rise in licence fee and spectrum charges, while a good quantum of money will come from state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) for its 5G spectrum payment. The company never participates in auctions but always pays a market-determined price for its spectrum needs.
As widely predicted, the impending Indian spectrum auction, probably taking place in March, is not going to generate a lot of revenue for the country’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), something the DoT itself has now admitted.