The communications ministry has sent recommendations to the Union cabinet favouring the entry of Big Tech such as Google, Amazon, TCS and Cisco in building 5G networks for businesses and enterprises according to the sources. This move will be a setback to Telcos such as Airtel. Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea as their business prospects will be hit if new players enter the fray.
The move has come up in accordance with the original recommendations made by regulator Trai that had first suggested the entry of technology firms into the 5G space for businesses. The cabinet is expected to take up the matter very soon.
According to sources the recommendations from the communications ministry says, “Enterprises setting up private captive networks may obtain the spectrum directly from the DoT and establish their own isolated network.”
The note highlights the ways in which private networks can be set up in areas such as smart factories, hospitals, educational institutes, agricultural players, ports, airports and hotels. It also says that while private tech companies would be allowed to set up the networks, it would also be open for traditional telecom companies to continue their rights of being in the business too.
