Telcos file 5G trial applications

NEW DELHI: Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and BSNL on Wednesday submitted their respective applications for 5G field trials with the telecom department.

People familiar with the matter said that both Vodafone Idea and Airtel have submitted their applications with Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei and ZTE, while Reliance Jio has submitted an application for trial with Korea’s Samsung, which is also the sole gear vendor for its pan-India 4G network.

State-run telco BSNL, on the other hand, has submitted the application with ZTE only for trials.

“Telcos have asked for spectrum in mid-band, millimeter-wave and anchor 4G bands to conduct 5G field trials,” a person familiar with the matter said, adding that the telecom department intends to start trials by February in the country.

“Huawei will work with Vodafone Idea and Airtel in Delhi and Bengaluru, respectively for 5G trials. Samsung and Jio will do the trial in Mumbai. Nokia and Ericsson will have similar arrangements with both VIL and Airtel for trials,” he added.