TRAI issues consultation paper on sale of 5G waves

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper on spectrum auction in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands'.

The industry stakeholders can comment on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from the stakeholders by 25th September 2017 and counter comments by 3rd October 2017.

The regulator said that"The key issues raised are a quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, optimal block size, duplexing scheme, spectrum cap, roll-out conditions and methods to be used for valuation and estimation of reserve price of spectrum."

Meanwhile, TRAI is also auctioning 5G spectrums for the first time.

"Department of Telecommunications through their reference dated 19th April 2017 sought recommendations of the TRAI on applicable reserve price, the quantum of spectrum to be auctioned and associated conditions for the auction of spectrum in 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2500, 3300-3400 and 3400-3600 MHz Bands," said Trai in the paper.

This is the second time that TRAI is auctioning 700 Mhz as there were no takers for 700 MHz and 900MHz in the last auction,

The seven companies participated in the last auction was India's largest telecommunication service provider are Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular, Aircel and Tata Tele and have deposited Rs 14,653 crore as earnest money.

In the Delhi circle, the reserve price for 700 MHz is pegged at Rs 1,595 crore per MHz -- which is the highest -- and for pan-India, it is Rs 11,485 crore per MHz.