TRAI maintains the fast pace precedence set by the govt, consultation paper on balance four bands soon

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has begun work on a consultation paper for auctioning of spectrum in four bands: the two crucial satellite bands which include Ka (satellite to earth 17.2-21.2 GHz and upload from 27.5-31 GHz) and KU (10.2-14.5 GHz) which enable broadband services, and the contentious E band (71-76 to 81-86 GHz ) as well as the V band (between 57-71 GHz).

The E band was recently offered by the DoT for 5G backhaul to operators in the interim at an administrative price, pending a final decision on how it will be allocated.

The move comes just a few days after the DoT sent references on these issues to the regulator. “Yes, we have received four references just a day or two before from the DoT and will come out with consultation papers in this regard soon. The process has already started. We will be carrying out studies and gathering data. We will examine possible options, new technological trends, and international practices so that we are able to come up with appropriate questions for consultation,” said a senior TRAI official.

It is believed that the DoT has also made a reference to the regulator on captive usage of these bands (E&V) as well as consideration of delicensing of the V band for indoor usage only.

The move is significant as there has been a bitter battle across stakeholders on how the spectrum has to be allocated in these contentious bands: through auction or through administrative allocation.

In the crucial E band, the telecom operators agree that it should be auctioned out. But they differ on the method of auctioning. Airtel suggested it should be ‘mandatorily’ bundled with the amount of spectrum bought in the mid band (3.5 GHz).

Reliance Jio suggested it should be auctioned separately so that companies could buy how much they want.

The Broadband Indian Forum (BIF) which represents companies like Google and Facebook opposed its auctioning, saying that it should be given at an administrative price and used for the proliferation of high speed wifi. It has also opposed the auctioning of the V band.

In the case of the satellite bands too, there has been a bitter battle between Sunil Mittal’s OneWeb which has been pushing for administrative allocation and Reliance Jio which wants it to be auctioned.

For instance, OneWeb has made a big push to reserve 1 GHz (between 27.5 to 28.5 GHz) in the millimetre band or the Ka band for satellite broadband at an administrative price so that it can uplink to its satellite network.

Reliance Jio strongly opposed this move, arguing that it should be part of the 5Gg auction as part of the millimetre band to ensure a level playing field. Secondly, it said the band between 27.5-28.5 GHz should be allowed for mixed usage for terrestrial 5G and satellite broadband, leaving the decision to the operator.

Reliance Jio also asked for an allowance for sub-leasing of part of the band wherever there are getaway operations of a satellite operator.

However, in TRAI’s back reference to the DoT on this issue during the consultative process for the 5G auction, the former said that it had recommended that the entire spectrum should be auctioned (from 24.25 to 28.25 GHz ) but it left it to the DoT as to whether it wanted to allocate or auction it for 5G.

The DoT had argued that, as the information regarding space-based communication satellites which included the frequency bands to be earmarked (as asked by the regulator) will take some time, it could be taken up later on and therefore avoid any delay in the 5G auctions.

As a result, the 1GHz band was not auctioned in the recently concluded auctions. Business Standard