DoT Sets Up Panel To Give Views On 5G Trial Spectrum In A Month

The telecom department has set up a committee to recommend on the scope of 5G trials in the country in a month’s time.

The Committee, which has representation from academia, Wireless & Planning Wing, telcos and the telecom department, will also give its recommendations on the size, quantum, pricing and other aspects for offering experimental or trial spectrum for 5G trials.

The committee will also give its recommendations on relevant issues as envisaged in the new telecom policy 2018, according to a notification by the DoT’s policy division.

The Committee members include Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur – Chairman, Amit Yadav, JS (Telecom) – Member, Convener, Sukhpal Singh – JWA, WPC – Member, Ashutosh Pandey, DDG(Radio), TEC – Member, YGSC Kishore Babu, DDG (Policy) – Member, Rajiv Prakash, DDG, (WPF) – Member, Vikram Tiwathia, COAI – Member, Parag Niak, Saankhya Labs – Member, to represent industry and BS Murthy, Director (IT-III) – Member-Coordinator.

Telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have already submitted a joint proposal with vendors like Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia to conduct 5G field trials in India.

Gear vendors and telecom operators are currently awaiting clarity over the allocation of free spectrum for 5G field trials as they want the spectrum for at least a year. The wireless planning wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had previously made it clear that free spectrum for 5G trials can be allocated only for 90 days, citing current rules.—Gadgets Now