Auction or allocation of 28 GHz spectrum: Trai says as much as DoT

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has mentioned that it’s as much as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to resolve whether or not the upper frequencies of 27.5-28.5 GHz ought to be put up for public sale or allotted to telecom service suppliers (TSPs).

In its reply to the DoT’s again reference, the regulator mentioned that as was sought by the Department, the Trai has already given its suggestions on public sale of spectrum in respective frequency bands together with 27.5-28.5 GHz as a part of 24.25-28.5 GHz band. “However, it is for the DoT to decide whether frequency range 27.5-28.5 GHz is to be allocated/ auctioned for IMT/5G,” Trai mentioned.

On April 11, the regulator had beneficial that each one out there spectrum within the current bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz in addition to the newer frequency bands of 600 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz, and 24.25-28.5 GHz even be put up for public sale.

Moreover, the Trai disagreed with the DoT that the telecom regulatory physique’s views ought to be sought each time the federal government needs to conduct public sale at shorter intervals. According to Trai, the spectrum valuation train that it undertakes makes use of varied fashions and approaches that make use of diversified “datasets of technical, market and economic data, updated periodically”

“These parameters do not change much in a short time span. At the same time, the Authority had noted that there is a need to evaluate the techno-economic context at regular intervals to reckon for changes. The Authority had also noted in this context that annual valuation exercises may not be necessary,” Trai mentioned.

Further, the regulator has advised that separate band-specific minimal rollout obligations (MRO) as beneficial by it ought to be saved for 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-27.5 GHz bands.

“Technical characteristics of these two bands are quite different and use cases likely to be deployed using these spectrum bands are also likely to be different. Possibility of a bidder acquiring spectrum in only one of these bands and not in both the bands, cannot be ruled out,” Trai mentioned.

In its suggestions on April 11, Trai had advised easing a few of the MRO for deployment of 5G by the brand new entrants within the telecom sector. For instance, within the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1800 MHz bands, Trai has advised that the time interval for MRO ought to be prolonged to 2 years from 1 12 months at the moment.