Adani group to enter into 5G spectrum:
Gautam Adani, a led conglomerate to engage in a bidding clash with Reliance & Airtel for 5G spectrum. Adani Group’s entry into the 5G spectrum will result in intensified competition for revenue. Analysts believe Adani Group to engage in a battle for 5G airwaves auction. The auction will be on July 26, in both the coveted but expensive 3.3-3.67 GHz and the cheaper 26 GHz bands. Adani Group as the fourth bidder will increase sell off the spectrum. This will lead to more sales of the spectrum, which is good for the government. The price will rise 10% over the reserve price of Rs.317Cr. a unit.
Adani Group clarifies it doesn’t want to enter the consumer mobility space but would participate in the upcoming auction. Adani Group intends to provide private network solutions with enhanced security at its airports, logistics, power generation, distribution, and manufacturing units. They mentioned their plans align with their recent proposition of increasing the Adani Foundation’s investment in education, skill developments, and healthcare. Despite their current focus being on 5G private captive networks, they would target both 5G airwaves 26 GHz and C-band also called mid-band. As ecosystems are now developed around C-band and not much around 26GHz waves.
Adani telco will include services in automation of factories, remote education centers or remote working facilities, and other 5G storage solutions. Spectrum leasing means one company leasing spectrum from telecoms for a fee to corporates keen to invest in such networks. The large corporates can be setting networks on their own or in a tie-up with a technology company. Adani group will have the facility to serve enterprise offerings which include the private network as a service. The entry of Adani Group could make difficult situations for cash-strapped Vodafone Idea. This would dampen future revenue streams for the current telecom companies. Vodafone Idea may either overbid or miss out on the opportunity to participate in the auction.
The Centre plans 72Ghz worth 4.5 lakh Cr. to be valid for 20 years at the base price in various low bands (600 Mhz, 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz, 900 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, 2100 Mhz, 2300, 2500 Mhz), mid (3.3-3.67 GHz) and high (26 GHz) frequency bands. However, the government expects telecoms to use both mid and high-band spectrum to roll out 5G services.
