The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecommunications providers not to install any 5G base stations in the 3,300-3,670 MHz frequency band within 2.1 km from all airport runways in India.

“The Telecommunication Service Provider (TSP) has been informed that Indian airports shall not have 5G/IMT base stations within the 3,300-3,670 MHz range 2,100 meters from both ends of the runway and 910 meters from the runway centreline,” the DoT letter said.

“Base stations, nodes or repeaters installed within 540 meters around the area must have a maximum power limit of 58 dBm/MHz in the 3,300-3,670 MHz range,” the letter further said.

Given the safety of aircraft operations, the Ministry of Civil Aviation provided a schematic diagram of the buffer zone and safety zone, requiring telecom companies to ensure mitigation measures when implementing C-band 5G spectrum in and around the airport area.

The letter stated that within 2100 meters at both ends of the runway and within 910 meters of the centre line of the airport runway, 3300-3570MHz (C-band 5G).

“Ensure that 5G base stations are tilted downward so that 5G transmissions do not interfere with radio altimeters,” the letter said.

In many countries, n78 (3500 MHz), commonly known as the 3.5 GHz 5G band or C-band 5G, is the most commonly tested and deployed 5G frequency.