Airtel wants abundant 5G spectrum at lowest price

MUMBAI: To r oll out fifth generation or 5G services in India telecom companies need abundant spectrum at the lo west possib le cost, said Bhar ti Air tel Ltd, India's second big gest telecom operator by number of users.

"Ultimately, w here y ou want the money to go is in rolling out the netw orks, and building the spine tha t the country needs ," Chief Executive Of ficer Gopal Vittal said during an industry event.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had recommended auctioning 5 G spectrum in the 3,300 MHz to 3,600 MHz band sat areserve price of 4.92 bln rupees per MHz, w hich was termed as "ex orbitant" b y the telecom operators.

Bharti Airtel had successfully conducted a live test of 5G services on its existing 4G netw ork in Hy derabad, highlighting its r eadiness for a r ollout w henever the government auctions the spectrum.

In January, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar P rasad had said the 5G test-bed is ready , and the per mit f or the trials wi ll be gi ven soon.