DoT Pondering Over Sending Reference to TRAI on 5G Spectrum Auction

The MoS for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan, told Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the DoT will soon seek the TRAI's recommendations on issues related to the 5G Spectrum Auction.

DoT Going to TRAI for 5G Spectrum Auction Recommendations

In the Rajya Sabha, Chauhan said, "the government is considering sending a reference to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), seeking its recommendations on issues involved in auction of spectrum available for International Mobile Telecommunications (read: 5G) services". However, the MoS did not specify any dates or timelines for the spectrum sale.

For the time being, the telecom department has "earmarked" the spectrum in the 3.3-3.6 GHz band for 5G. However, there has been nothing on when and how the 5G spectrum sale will happen. The DoT had also said that it will offer the 700 MHz band as well in the spectrum sale; the telcos, however, also seek mmWave spectrum. However, the same has become a bone of contention between them and satcom players, who want all of the coveted spectrum to their own use.

The 700 MHz band has been known to have utility for 5G; however, all the telcos gave it a miss in the March spectrum auction. The telcos said that the price was too high to consider the band. Therefore, they have called for bringing the price of the 700 MHz band close to that of other sub-1GHz bands.

To their credit, India's Big Telco has repeatedly told DoT to cut 5G spectrum base price, and DoT has supported that sentiment. Right now, DoT has set the base price at ₹492 Crore per MHz; the telcos have warned the government of a third failed spectrum auction in a row.

DoT, for the ongoing 5G Trials, has allocated spectrum in the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands. The government wants Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea to develop India-relevant 5G use cases. However, the telcos say that unless the government will sell these bands, there is little point to the exercise.