John Giusti Outlines Why India Needs 2.5 Gigahertz More Spectrum For 5G-Advanced And 6G

On Friday, November 6, 2026, GSMA Chief Regulatory Officer John Giusti described a major shortfall in India’s wireless infrastructure. The reported need: another 2.5 to 3 gigahertz of spectrum to support 5G-Advanced and 6G networks.

Overview

India’s current allocations across multiple frequency bands reportedly total about 4.16 gigahertz nationwide, according to Indiatimes. That spectrum supports everything from rural coverage at low frequencies to high-capacity urban corridors.

But advanced mobile networks need much wider channels to keep congestion in check. Operators in dense cities repeatedly hit capacity limits that software updates alone can’t fix. As data consumption grows exponentially, regulators face pressure to rethink how they’ve historically reserved spectrum bands.

Key Details From John Giusti Briefing

GSMA Chief Regulatory Officer John Giusti reportedly presented these figures at a technology briefing on Friday, November 6, 2026. He stressed that a country’s geographic scale shapes its bandwidth needs: larger markets require denser channel allocations than smaller regions. The estimated shortfall is 2.5 to 3 gigahertz of additional mobile spectrum, as operators work with fragmented slices that struggle to handle heavy data loads at the same time.

The ministry has reportedly mapped out these tiered allocations to help legacy services and next-generation protocols hand off seamlessly. Expanding mid-band spectrum is the most direct route to reliable gigabit speeds without a major increase in tower density. Millimeter wave deployments, by contrast, remain highly localized but can sharply reduce latency for enterprise applications.

Context

Regional infrastructure investment can spur corporate growth, putting more strain on networks. Recent enterprise hardware rollouts, including announcements about portable storage solutions, show how quickly local data habits are shifting toward cloud-based workflows. Corporate IT teams also look to performance benchmarks when planning bandwidth-heavy workstation upgrades, adding to demand on cellular backhaul systems.

Domestic carriers are now competing over how efficiently regulators auction these newly identified frequencies. Earlier allocation rounds favored fast market entry over long-term network scaling, so operators have had to manage traffic spikes with software rather than added capacity. Closing the gap will take coordinated policy changes that match auction timelines with equipment readiness. Industry stakeholders regularly call for predictable release schedules to support investment in radio access networks.

What’s Next

Regulators will likely hold targeted bidding rounds for upper mid-band and low millimeter wave spectrum. Those auctions should reward efficiency, not just revenue, to speed up commercial deployment. As chipset makers adapt their silicon, consumer devices will gradually support wider tuners and channels.

Early adopters can expect better indoor coverage and less congestion during evening peaks. Reworking national bandwidth reserves is a necessary step, not an optional upgrade. Legacy frequency boundaries can’t support exponential data growth indefinitely. Operators that secure these channels first could gain an edge in emerging application categories. John Giusti continues to promote structured allocation models that balance commercial viability with public utility mandates. Secure the frequencies quickly, or network congestion could stall digital innovation for years.

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