Why in news?

The Union Cabinet has approved the refarming of 687 MHz of spectrum for mobile services, increasing the total available spectrum to 1,587 MHz, with 320 MHz to be released immediately and the rest by 2028-29. The re-farmed spectrum primarily comes from the Ministry of Defence and ISRO.

Union Telecom Minister stated that mobile services will require 2,000 MHz of spectrum by 2030. Currently, 900 MHz is available, leaving a gap of 1,100 MHz.

The refarming aligns with industry demands for efficient use of mid-band spectrum (1,000–6,000 MHz) and prepares for future needs.

What’s in today’s article?

• Airwaves/Spectrum – About, types of spectrum band, bands useful for telecom companies
• Refarming of spectrum

Airwaves/Spectrum

• About
  • Airwaves are radio frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum that can carry information wirelessly for a range of services including telecommunications.
  • The government manages and allocates airwaves to companies or sectors for their use.
  • The government auctions a fixed amount of spectrum within specified band/s to be utilised by operators for providing communication services to consumers.
• Types of spectrum band
  • Low band spectrum
    • Less than 1 GHz (600 MHz,700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz)
    • Offers blanket coverage suitable to serve thousands of customers over long distances with fewer towers.
    • Ideal for wide and in-building coverage.
    • When bundled with high-spectrum bands, it can be used for commercial mobile and broadcasting services.
  • The mid-band spectrum
    • Ranges from 1 GHz to 6 GHz (1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2300 MHz).
    • Provides coverage as well as the capacity to carry more data while traveling significant distances.
  • The high band spectrum
    • Ranges from 24 GHz to 40 GHz and are also known as the millimetre wave spectrum.
    • Ideal for speedy networks over short ranges.
    • However, this range is subject to interference from dense objects.
• What spectrum do telecom companies require?
  • Optimal Spectrum Range for Telecom Services
    • The 400 MHz to 4 GHz range is considered the most suitable for telecom services, as per the GSM Association.
    • Sufficient spectrum allows operators to provide 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G services using a single frequency band.
  • Frequency Bands for Mobile Technology in India
    • 2G Services: 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.
    • 3G Services: 900 MHz and 2100 MHz.
    • 4G Services: 850 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz.
    • 5G Services: 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands.
  • Significance of the 900 MHz Band
    • Offers a well-developed commercial ecosystem with superior technology standards.
    • Supports GSM-based voice calls and 4G broadband services.
  • Role of the 1800 MHz Band
    • The 1800 MHz band is a key spectrum for GSM services and is globally used as the core band for LTE (4G).
  • 5G Spectrum Classification
    • 5G spectrum is categorized into low, mid, and high-frequency bands for efficient deployment and operations.

Refarming of spectrum

• About
  • Spectrum refarming is the process of repurposing spectrum bands for more efficient technologies or new services.
    • For example, a provider using the 900 MHz band for 2G services may reallocate part of it for LTE (Long-term evolution) to meet increasing data demand.
  • The GSMA defines spectrum refarming as reallocating frequency bands traditionally used for 2G (GSM technology) to newer mobile technologies like 3G (UMTS-Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and 4G (LTE).
• Why is Spectrum Refarming important?
  • To maximize the capacity and efficiency of a network by moving older, less demanding services to a smaller portion of the spectrum, freeing up space for newer, more data-intensive technologies.
  • Spectrum is a scarce resource and with growing demand for mobile broadband and advanced technologies like LTE and 5G, spectrum must be utilized efficiently.
  • It enables Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to upgrade from legacy networks to 4G or 5G based on consumer demand and market growth.
• Benefits
  • Increased network capacity
  • Improved network performance
  • Cost-effective way to upgrade networks without buying new spectrum
• Challenges
  • Service Continuity:
    • CSPs must ensure there are no interruptions or degradation in services during the refarming process.
  • Device Compatibility:
    • Some devices only support specific frequency bands, so they must continue operating on legacy networks.
  • Thorough Analysis:
    • CSPs must analyze device types and user behavior to determine the appropriate spectrum allocation for different technologies without compromising service quality.
  • Channel Interference:
    • Ensuring no interference between channels is crucial during spectrum refarming.
  • Contiguous Spectrum:
    • A sufficient, contiguous spectrum is needed to support the simultaneous operation of multiple technologies within a frequency band.