India’s frequency allocation plan disappoints operators
India’s Department of Telecommunications has put its National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 into effect as of 30 December 2025, and mobile operators are already pushing back. The NFAP-2025 sets out how India will divide and use radio spectrum across services, but industry reaction so far has focused on what is missing rather than what has been opened up.
Operators argue the new plan does not free enough spectrum in the most useful bands for mobile broadband and future network upgrades. They also say the allocation mix does not line up well with international practice, which could raise costs for equipment and slow deployment. With demand for data still climbing and 5G rollouts under way, the gap between the regulator’s roadmap and operators’ needs is now in clear view.
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