Jio Expands Spectrum in Bihar and West Bengal

In a recent spectrum auction by the Department of Telecommunications, Jio, India’s leading digital services provider, acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in Bihar and West Bengal. This acquisition expands Jio’s 1800 MHz band spectrum in these regions.

According to a Jio press release, the company’s spectrum footprint has now increased to 26,801 MHz (uplink + downlink), solidifying its leadership position. Jio has deployed the largest amount of spectrum across India on bandwidth-efficient technologies like 4G and 5G. This new spectrum will address geography-specific demand and ensure the highest quality customer experience.

Jio is the only operator in India with access to low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum (700 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26GHz), providing a superior 5G experience. Akash M Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, stated, “We have already demonstrated our commitment to the Digital India Vision by rolling out one of the world’s fastest and widest Stand Alone 5G networks within 12 months of allotment of spectrum.”

He added, “This new spectrum acquisition will continue to enable us to serve the aspirations of the new India, in terms of growing traffic demands and superior customer experience, which is no longer limited to only urban markets. We want every Indian to enjoy the transformational benefits of Jio’s next generation of digital solutions.”

In Bihar, Jio acquired 5.0 MHz of paired spectrum for Rs 420.25 crore, and in West Bengal, 9.4 MHz of paired spectrum for Rs 553.38 crore. The total acquisition of 14.4 MHz of paired spectrum cost Rs 973.63 crore, with payments spread over 20 annual installments at an interest rate of 8.65% per annum.