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Coronavirus impact: As data usage jumps, telcos ask govt for more spectrum

With people staying at home, data usage has grown considerably and telecom networks are feeling the pressure

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A municipal corporation worker sprays disinfectant inside a bank as a preventive measure to contain the spread of coronavirus in Vijayawada. Photo: PTI

Surajeet Das Gupta New Delhi
Telecom operators have demanded additional spectrum urgently on a temporary basis from the government, with traffic surging 15-20 per cent from Sunday.

They say such a move will help them cope up with the unprecedented increase in data usage as a result of “work from home” and “self-quarantine” across the country.

A senior executive of a telco that saw a spike in data traffic, said: “We saw a huge spurt of 15-20 per cent in dense areas on Sunday, when there was a call by the Prime Minister to stay home.” Last week, the traffic stood at only 10 per cent, according