Bharti Airtel acquires 400 MHz of 5G spectrum from Adani Data Networks across 6 major circles
In the month of April of 2025, Bharti Airtel made the announcement regarding the acquisition of 400 MHz of 5G spectrum in the 26 GHz band from Adani Data Networks Limited (ADNL) which is the subsidiary of Adani Enterprises. The acquisition is said to shake the 5G landscape in India and has brought a pivotal change in the telecom sector while enhancing the capabilities of Airtel.
The agreement comprises spectrum rights in six circles: Gujarat-100 MHz; Mumbai-100 MHz; Andhra Pradesh-50 MHz; Rajasthan-50 MHz; Karnataka-50 MHz; and Tamil Nadu-50 MHz. However, the transaction does not disclose the financial part but remains subject to standard regulatory approvals and India’s Spectrum Trading Guidelines.
Adani Shifted to Strategy
ADNL paid around ₹212 crore for this specific spectrum in the inaugural 5G auction conducted in India back in the year 2022. The prime purpose of acquiring them was that the company was going to set private 5G networks across the infrastructure assets like ports, airports, and even power plants. However, the inability to actually adhere to its rollout obligations later led to financial penalties, thus making it rethink its telecom aspirations. The transfer of spectrum rights is, therefore, a clear sign of Adani’s going away from direct telecom operations and towards working on infrastructure businesses, which it focuses on in any case.
Benefits to Airtel
This adds to the 5G spectrum coffers of Airtel, apart from the most important high-frequency 26 GHz band, which is instrumental in providing edgier services, like ultra-fast and low latency. Add-on spectrum boosts Airtel’s capability to offer sophisticated enterprise solutions and FWA and cater to futuristic technologies that include the IoT and Industry 4.0 applications.
Consequently, the addition of spectrum positions Airtel in a stronger competitor place of Reliance Jio enabling better and widespread 5G deployment in urban and industrial locations with great synergy in the well-placed position of Airtel against other competitors in the high-speed domain, wherein India is projected to see increasing demand for 5G connectivity.
Market Dynamics and the Future
Wide-spectrum transfer from Adani to Airtel reflects general trends prevailing in the Indian telecom, where established operators are pooling resources to ramp up momentum for 5G rollouts. The offering of facilities to be carried through investments on a high-dimensional band, 26 GHz, would all be investment-heavy and would require substantial investment in infrastructure and technology. So the move by Airtel functions to afford it meeting the demands effectively set up by investments against its existing network and customer base.
Such internal developments, however, wouldn’t be game-changers themselves and would rather serve as a booster shot for the ramp-up process, especially during the phase when the 5G ecosystem is evolving. Considering this, Airtel has taken the lead to acquire more spectrum towards creating innovative services to better cater to the needs of customers and enterprises.
Airtel’s acquisition of 400 MHz of 5G spectrum from Adani Data Networks marks a significant development in India’s telecom landscape. By augmenting its spectrum assets, Airtel is well-positioned to expand its 5G services, cater to diverse customer needs, and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving market. This strategic move not only reinforces Airtel’s leadership in the sector but also sets the stage for transformative advancements in India’s digital infrastructure.
