• Source:JND
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Reliance Jio intends to leverage the ultra-26 GHz 5G spectrum to deliver broadband services over wireless internet. This will mark the first time wireless broadband is proposed in India. The telecom giant has approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for permission to employ this spectrum for supplementary non-mobile 5G services.

What Jio is Planning

As of now, most service providers in the country have deployed WiFi access points operating on the 5GHz band and use 3300 MHz and 26 GHz for 5G mobile services. However, Jio's new proposition seeks to combine the wide coverage of the gigahertz band with the ultrahigh speeds from the 26 GHz mmWave band to enable metropolitan broadband in highly populated areas – areas where broadband penetration is still very poor or insufficient.

Jio has already licensed the 26 GHz band for fixed wireless access (FWA) and now plans to extend the scope to include broadband served over WiFi with minimal dependence on mobile telephony.

Why This Matters

The 26 GHz band is a millimetre-wave (mmWave) frequency associated with ultra-fast 5G speeds but has seen little adoption owing to device support and infrastructure investment requirements. Jio's approach marks the first major attempt which, along with other initiatives, will help make this spectrum accessible for more commercial and economical broadband use cases.

This follows the Adani Group's exit from the 26 GHz spectrum, selling their share to Bharti Airtel due to limited use cases. Jio’s move could indicate a change in the way the high 5G frequency bands are used in India.

What’s Next?

According to the NIA in the July 2022 auction, any modification in the usage of spectrum requires approval from the government. Proposals must be made not less than 6 months before the proposed usage. The DoT has confirmed that is currently reviewing Jio's request.

If this decision is reached, it could enable next generation broadband services harnessing 5G infrastructure and enhance India’s digital potential in the consumer and enterprise markets.