Telecom Firms To Face Higher Costs As Government Plans Tariff For High-Frequency Bands — Profit Exclusive
High-frequency bands like 6–21 GHz are used by Jio, Airtel, and Vi for tower-to-tower communication. This move could increase their operational costs.

The Department of Telecommunications is set to start charging telecom companies for the use of high-frequency radio bands—airwaves that are critical for transmitting internet and call data between mobile towers, people familiar with the matter told NDTV Profit.
High-frequency bands—such as 6 GHz, 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, and 21 GHz—are currently being used by telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, primarily for tower-to-tower communication, also known as backhaul. These microwave links form the backbone of India’s mobile and internet connectivity, carrying call and data traffic between telecom towers.
So far, operators have used these bands without paying any direct fee, except for a nominal Spectrum Usage Charge. However, the government is now moving to monetise this infrastructure, the people said.
As part of this policy shift, the DoT and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India will soon finalise the terms of assignment—the conditions under which these high-speed frequencies will be allocated to telecom firms going forward. The people mentioned above also suggested that TRAI will soon propose a reserve price or base tariff for these bands, marking the first step towards formal pricing of this crucial spectrum. The terms are expected to be ready in the next two to three months, following a consultation with telecom companies and industry bodies.
Although expected to be a minor shift, this change could increase operational costs for an already ailing sector that is reeling under the pressure of the AGR dues. Experts caution that if telecom companies do not agree with government's proposed new tariffs, they may opt out.
How This Differs From 6 GHz Delicensing
Just days earlier, the government delicensed the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz)—allowing it to be used by Wi-Fi and other local networks without licensing fees. This move is aimed at boosting public internet access and enabling next-generation Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6E/7) in homes, offices, and public spaces.
In contrast, the current policy under discussion focuses on the licensed upper portions of high-frequency spectrum, used exclusively by telecom operators for long-distance tower communication. While the 6 GHz delicensing supports consumer access and innovation, this proposal is about regulating and monetising telecom firms' core infrastructure.
What Are High-Frequency Bands?
High-frequency bands are part of the radio spectrum above 6 GHz, commonly used by telecom operators to transmit large amounts of data wirelessly between towers. These point-to-point microwave links act as invisible highways in the sky, allowing your mobile data and calls to hop from tower to tower, before reaching the internet backbone.
Charging telecom companies for these bands could raise the cost of operating this hidden infrastructure — with potential knock-on effects for consumer pricing, network expansion, and rural connectivity.

(Photo source: NDTV Profit)