Next round of spectrum auction process started by TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Monday kick-started the process for the next round of spectrum auctions by issuing a consultation paper on key issues for sale of airwaves, including for offering 5G services.

The issues on which the regulator has sought comments include the quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, optimal block size, spectrum cap, roll-out conditions and methods to be used for valuation and estimation of reserve price of spectrum.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had earlier said it planned to auction spectrum in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300- 3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands in 2017. DoT had proposed the auction of 60% of the total spectrum that remained unsold after the last auctions held in October 2016, in addition to two more bands — 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz, used to offer 5G services.

In the last auction, 2,355 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum worth ₹5.6 lakh crore across seven bands was put up for bids and fetched the government revenues of ₹65,789 crore.

The last date for sending comments is September 25, and counter comments are to be sent by October 3, 2017.

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Source:The hindu

TRAI