Private 5G networks: The next big battle in India's telecom space

Telcos want enterprise service providers to come under the licensing and spectrum auctioning regime but the lobby for a light-touch regime is pushing back

Private 5G networks, where the infrastructure is used exclusively by devices authorised by the end-use organisation, such as those within factory premises, are becoming a growing business in the global telecom sweepstakes.

Last year, Germany issued 5G private licences to over 33 companies — including such major names as BASF, BMW, Bosch, Lufthansa, Siemens and Volkswagen — to run exclusive networks. In France, airport operator ADP Group and French electricity company EDF have joined the same bandwagon. And the UK, the US and Australia are putting in place policies to enable private 5G networks.

So can India, which is expected