The DoT has recently invited applications from enterprises that are willing to set up private networks in India
Indian company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) aims to help companies and organizations across different verticals to set up their 5G private networks, Indian newspaper The Economic Times reported.
“As a technology company and a system integrator (SI), we will work with our clients across the verticals and help them to set up their private 5G networks in their campuses or factories,” N. Ganapathy Subramaniam, COO of TCS was quoted as saying.
Under local regulations, TCS can set up 5G private network for enterprises but cannot become a licensee or own spectrum. A company that intends to deploy a private network can lease out frequencies from a telecom operator or directly purchase the frequencies from the government.
“The move by the government on private networks is a step in the right direction. This will certainly accelerate the digital adoption across enterprises,” the executive added.
In a recent spectrum auction carried out by the Department of Telecom (DoT), Adani Data Networks, which is a subsidiary of local conglomerate Adani Group, secured 400 MHz in the 26 GHz spectrum band becoming the first entity to purchase spectrum to deploy a 5G private network.
Earlier this week, Adani Data Networks has applied for a universal license in six geographic regions across India. 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 DoT has also recently invited applications from enterprises that are willing to set up private networks. The department has opened up an application window between August 10 and September 9.
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.
The country’s Telecommunications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has recently requested that telecom service providers prepare for the launch of 5G across India.
“Spectrum assignment letter issued. Requesting TSPs [telecom services providers] to prepare for 5G launch,” Vaishnaw wrote in a tweet.
With the assignment of 5G frequencies, Indian operators can start the work of rolling out 5G networks.
