DoT seeks TRAI's views on spectrum pricing, quantum ahead of 5G auction

 

Telecom Department has approached TRAI seeking its recommendations on pricing, quantum and other modalities pertaining to radiowaves in multiple bands as it prepares the groundwork for holding 5G spectrum auction in the coming months.

The last round of spectrum auction, held in March this year, had raked-in winning bids of over Rs 77,800 crore for 855.6 MHz of spectrum.

When contacted, TRAI Secretary V Raghunandan confirmed that TRAI has indeed received a reference from Department of Telecom (DoT) on 5G spectrum but declined to divulge exact contents of the communication.

The regulator is currently examining the reference made by DoT, he said.

The reference is with regard to multiple bands and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will seek additional information, if needed.

"We will try our best to meet the expectations," Raghunandan said when asked about the possible timelines for concluding the entire consultation process, including holding open house discussions (a standard practice followed by the regulator), and finalising its views.

According to sources, DoT's reference seeks views of TRAI on base price, quantum and all other modalities for spectrum across multiple bands. These include bands such as 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz bands as also 3,300-3,600 MHz bands (that were not put up for auctions in the last round), and millimetre-wave band (that is 24.25-28.5 GHz).

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