DoT calls for collaborative model to work towards 6G spectrum studies

There is a need to collaborate and work together for establishing infrastructure and organization for 5G and 6G spectrum studies, including jointly collaborating for technology implementation in the country, said A.K. Tiwari, Member Technology, of DoT’s Digital Communications Commission (DCC).

Telecom industry and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) should work together to establish a framework for new technologies including 6G, a senior official from the department said.

There is a need to collaborate and work together for establishing infrastructure and organization for 5G and 6G spectrum studies, including jointly collaborating for technology implementation in the country, said A.K. Tiwari, Member Technology, of DoT’s Digital Communications Commission (DCC).

Tiwari was speaking during a virtual conference on “Looking beyond 5G: Future Technology trends towards 6G” organized by the ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) and 5G India Forum (5GIF).

Indian telcos Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have commenced 5G network trials with European gear makers Nokia and Ericsson while Reliance Jio is using its own indigenously developed 5G equipment and technology. It may also team up with Nokia, Samsung, and Ericsson for trials.

Airtel has conducted a cloud gaming session on its trial 5G network in Haryana’s Manesar.

The Sunil Mittal-led telco is also spearheading the O-RAN Alliance initiatives in India to build 5G solutions. It has already announced partnerships with Tata Group, Qualcomm, Intel, Mavenir and Altiostar.

Meanwhile, telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while launching wide-ranging reforms for the ailing telecom sector Thursday said the 5G spectrum auctions will “most probably” be held in February 2022, and the government may also try for auctions in January 2022.

Bharat Bhatia, President, ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) said the industry association will continue to work with the telecom department in spectrum-related studies, and 5G and 6G technology developments.

IAFI has proposed the creation of a new 600MHz spectrum band for 4G and 5G networks in the Asia Pacific region that will offer operators 140MHz of spectrum in the 600-700MHz range, including 80MHz in the 600MHz band and 60MHz in the 700MHz band.

ITU-APT Foundation proposes new 600MHz band for 4G and 5G in Asia Pacific region“With 600 MHz becoming available, the total bandwidth available to the mobile industry in this 600-700 MHz “beach-front” like spectrum will be 140 MHz, including 80 MHz in 600 MHz band and 60 MHz in 700 MHz band,” said an official statement.

Mario Maniewicz Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau of the ITU remarked that ITU’s role in developing a single, global 4G and 5G standard has led to an exponential growth of the mobile industry worldwide.

V. Raghunandan- Secretary TRAI emphasized the need for Artificial Intelligence (AI) studies in all technology areas, in particular on spectrum sharing.

T R Dua, Chairman, IAFI called upon the industry and the academia to work on 6G as it brings new opportunities in speed reliability and applications.

The event was also addressed by Aloknath De, Senior VP and Chief Technology Officer of Samsung R&D India, Bangalore, Iwao Hosako, Director General, Wireless Networks Research Center National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan, Magnus Frodigh – Vice President & Head of Ericsson Research & Co-Chair Hexa-X Initiative of the EU, Parag Kar – Vice President, Government Affairs, India and South Asia, Qualcomm.

Bid to change course of sector: Telecom Minister Ashwini VaishnawVaishnaw told ET’s Anandita Singh Mankotia that the government hopes to change the course of the telecom sector through its latest reform move and make it viable for investors.

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