Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT)

July 27, 2023

The Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) is gearing up for a significant meeting in August, scheduled to be held in Brisbane. This key gathering aims to determine the future deployment of the 6 GHz spectrum band for 5G services in India. As India and other Region 3 member nations, including China, South Korea, Japan, and others, prepare for the World Radio Communications-2023 conference in Dubai, the decisions made in this meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the 5G landscape in the country.

Deciding the 6 GHz Spectrum Band for 5G Services

The primary purpose of the APT meeting in Brisbane is to deliberate and finalize the deployment of the 6 GHz spectrum band for 5G services in India. This decision holds significant importance as the 6 GHz spectrum band offers internet speeds up to 10 Gbps, enabling faster and more efficient communication networks. The meeting aims to build momentum and collective support from all Region 3 nations to embrace the 6 GHz spectrum for a cost-effective rollout of 5G services.

Key Region 3 Member Nations

The APT meeting will witness participation from crucial Region 3 member nations, which include India, China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. This diverse group of countries in the Asia-Pacific region plays a vital role in driving ICT policy and regulatory coordination, making the meeting a significant platform for crucial discussions regarding 5G deployment.

Tech Giants’ Interest in the 6 GHz Spectrum Band

Tech giants such as Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), Amazon, Microsoft, Cisco, Qualcomm, Intel, and Netflix have shown a keen interest in the 6 GHz spectrum band. They see potential in utilizing this band to boost broadband penetration in rural India through the WiFi route. With internet speeds of up to 10 Gbps, the 6 GHz spectrum presents an opportunity to bridge the digital divide and offer affordable and high-speed internet access to remote areas.

Telcos’ Divergent Stance

On the other hand, India’s top telcos, namely Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, have a different perspective. They are vying for the 6 GHz spectrum band to be auctioned and made fully available for 5G services immediately and for future 6G endeavors. This divergence in opinions sets the stage for intense discussions during the APT meeting.

Importance of the APG’s Role

Within the APT, the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) is tasked with aligning all major Region 3 wireless/spectrum matters, including the 6 GHz band deployment for 5G services. The APG will present a common proposal at the WRC-2023 conference in Dubai, aiming to harmonize the 6 GHz band’s utilization and create a cost-efficient 5G devices/network ecosystem centered around these airwaves.

Awaiting India’s Position

Many Region 3 countries are anxiously awaiting India’s position at the upcoming APG meeting. India’s support for deploying the 6 GHz band for 5G services carries significant weight, particularly given China’s recent allocation of the band for the same purpose. India’s decision is expected to have a cascading effect on the region’s 5G strategies and spectrum allocations.

About the 6 GHz Band

The 6 GHz band is the only mid-band spectrum range capable of accommodating contiguous bandwidth of 300-400 units per telco. Such capacity is vital to address the evolving demands in the telecommunications sector towards the year 2030.

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