Booster Shot for Broadband

Rolling out the optical fibre network across the country is costly and time consuming. The Department of Telecom recently decided to auction airwaves in V and E bands for faster broadband networks, taking a different stand from regulator TRAI, which had suggested that these airwaves be allotted on an annual fixed-fee basis. V and E are high-frequency bands with low coverage. These are ideal for transmitting large amounts of data (1,000 megabit per second) between two mobile towers. They can replace the need for optic fibre cable between towers in a more cost-efficient way.

These bands could help companies build broadband infrastructure faster, especially in terrains where optical fibre can't reach. The E and V bands are expected to give a fillip to the government's ambitious BharatNet project that aims to connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed broadband connectivity.