L&T Infotech to acquire direct captive 5G spectrum, roll out parental solutions

According to the regulations for private 5G networks unveiled last month, the Department of Telecommunications would do a demand analysis before seeking advice from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) before granting spectrum. For the allocation of spectrum to businesses so they can connect their amenities, the divison won't charge a licensing or entry fee and can only impose a small processing fee of Rs 50,000.

L&T Technology Services has emerged as the first technology company to officially declare its interest in the government's direct distribution of spectrum for exclusive 5G networks. It needs to buy spectrum to set up a 5G private network and develop use cases for the technology, chief executive Amit Cadha informed ET. Larsen & Toubro, the engineering, analysis, and growth services agency may also roll out 5G options globally for parent company.

India recently published guidelines allowing non-telecom businesses to purchase spectrum directly from the telecom division in order to build their own 5G networks.

Company's managing director, Amit Chadha, who spoke with ET further explained,"Our Mysore campus has already made use of the 5G spectrum. We are developing use cases for remote working and emergency department situations in medicine. We are adopting dependable operations and pro-active maintenance planning in plant engineering. The third one has to do with defence. We've also established tool testing labs in Bangalore and Dallas, and we're currently setting up one for discrete manufacturing in Munich."

The company has partnered with community software vendor Mavenir to deliver 5G automation services and quick integration of open radio access network products, which they will sell together.

According to the regulations for private 5G networks unveiled last month, the Department of Telecommunications would do a demand analysis before seeking advice from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) before granting spectrum. For the allocation of spectrum to businesses so they can connect their amenities, the divison won't charge a licensing or entry fee and can only impose a small processing fee of Rs 50,000.

This has sparked a struggle between tech and telecom companies, with the latter raising concerns about a potential lack of 5G enterprise revenue and asserting that it may cast doubt on the profitability of their 5G options.

The ET report said that the company applauded the government's decision to allow 5G for private businesses, but it demanded changes to the fundamentals, including as allowing the implementation of the same 5G network in numerous locations. It is also demanded that the 5G spectrum that businesses receive be connected to the web in order to provide options for application-as-a-service or lab-as-a-service, according to Chadha.

He added that the company will deploy the technology within L&T's facilities as well. L&T Infotech and other tech companies in the consortium have said that they are not interested in purchasing their own 5G spectrum.