Adani Data Network entered the Indian telecom space after purchasing frequencies in a recent spectrum auction carried out by the government
Indian company Adani Data Network has obtained a license for network access services, which will allow the firm to provide all kinds of telecom services in the country, according to local press reports.
Government officials have confirmed that the license had been approved earlier this week.
Adani Data Network, owned by local conglomerate Adani Group, entered the Indian telecom space after purchasing frequencies in a recent spectrum auction carried out by the government.
Adani Data Networks had secured 400 megahertz of spectrum in the 26 GHz band. The company obtained 100 megahertz each in Gujarat and Mumbai and 50 megahertz each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
However, the company said it will not provide 5G services for the consumer market but will use these frequencies to deploy 5G private networks to support the conglomerate’s connectivity needs.
The recent 5G spectrum auction in India concluded on August 1. Indian carriers purchased a total $19 billion worth of spectrum in the process.
Reliance Jio walked away with the most spectrum, having spent $11 billion. Airtel won spectrum worth $5.4 billion, while Vodafone received spectrum worth $2.4 billion. Finally, Adani purchased spectrum worth approximately $27 million.
Adani Group recently confirmed that it secured the 5G frequencies with the aim of building a private network to support its own businesses adding that the firm’s intention was not to participate in the consumer mobility space.
“We are participating in the 5G spectrum auction to provide private network solutions along with enhanced cyber security in the airport, ports & logistics, power generation, transmission, distribution, and various manufacturing operations,” the company said in a release.
The group also noted that its 5G investment will support charitable efforts in education, healthcare and skills development.
“In addition, as we build our own digital platform encompassing super apps, edge data centers, and industry command and control centers, we will need ultra-high quality data streaming capabilities through a high frequency and low latency 5G network across all our businesses,” Adani said.
Adani Group’s businesses include port management, electric power generation and transmission, renewable energy, mining, airport operations, natural gas, food processing and infrastructure. The conglomerate has operations in 50 countries.
The first telco to launch 5G in India was Bharti Airtel, which has activated its 5G services in eight cities with plans to progressively cover the entire country by March 2024. Some of the cities where Airtel already offers 5G include Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi and Bangalore.
Last week, Reliance Jio Infocomm announced the launch of the beta trial of its 5G services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Varanasi.
The carrier confirmed that its 5G service will be offered through 5G StandAlone architecture. The telco will offer 5G through a mix of wireless spectrum across the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands.
