Airtel Cites Interference Risks with Adjacent Satellite Bands
Bharti Airtel has formally opposed a proposal by Reliance Jio to use a portion of the 26GHz (millimeter-wave) spectrum for license-exempt Wi-Fi services. Airtel argued that deploying high-power Wi-Fi services in this band deviates from global standards, could cause interference with adjacent satellite broadband spectrum, and raises electromagnetic field (EMF) compliance issues.
Telecom Department Evaluates Guard Band and Compliance Frameworks
The 26GHz band was auctioned in 2022 for 5G mobile services but has seen limited adoption due to high deployment costs. Jio’s proposal is intended to provide a cost-effective way to deliver home and enterprise broadband, while Airtel argues that licensed spectrum must be protected. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is evaluating the proposal and considering guard bands to prevent interference.
