India’s telecom regulator TRAI on Tuesday released a detailed consultation paper to discuss modalities for auction of 5G spectrum  bands, including pricing, quantum and related conditions.

The Telecom Department has asked TRAI to provide recommendations on issues such as applicable reserve price, band plan, block size, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned and associated conditions for auction of spectrum in 526-698 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 GHz bands, PTI quoted the regulator from a statement issued in New Delhi.

“The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a consultation Paper on ‘Auction of spectrum in the frequencies identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) / 5G,” the statement added.

TRAI has sought comments from stakeholders on over 70 issues outlined in its consultation paper by December 28, 2021. The deadline for counter-comments has been set at January 11, 2022.

Some of the issues put up for consultation include the following:

# Whether spectrum bands in the frequency range 526-617 MHz, should be put to auction in the forthcoming auction?

# If your answer to Q1 is in affirmative, which band plans and duplexing configuration should be adopted in India?

# In case your answer to Q1 is in negative, what should be the timelines for adoption of these bands for IMT? Suggestions to make these bands ready for adoption for IMT may also be made along with proper justification.

# Do you agree that the 600 MHz spectrum band should be put to auction in the forthcoming auction?

# For 3300-3670 MHz frequency range, which band plan should be adopted in India?

# Do you agree that TDD based configuration should be adopted for 24.25 to 28.5 GHz frequency range?

# Whether the entire available spectrum referred to by DoT in each band should be put to auction in the forthcoming auction?

# Since upon closure of commercial CDMA services in the country, 800 MHz band is being used for provision of LTE services.

# Whether provision for guard band in 800 MHz band needs to be revisited and whether there is a need to change the block size for 800 MHz band?

# Do you agree that in the upcoming auction, block sizes and minimum quantity for bidding in 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands, be kept the same as in the last auction? If not, what should be the band-wise block sizes and minimum quantity for bidding?

# Is there a need to prescribe any measure to mitigate possible interference issues in 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 GHz TDD bands or it should be left to the telecom service providers (TSPs) to manage the interference by mutual coordination and provisioning of guard bands?

# Any other measures to mitigate interference related issues may be made along with detailed justification.

# Whether the roll-out obligations for 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz as stipulated in the NIA for last auctions held in March 2021 are appropriate?

# Keeping in mind the importance of 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25- 28.5 GHz bands for 5G, whether spectrum cap per operator specific to each of these bands should be prescribed?

# Whether there should be a separate spectrum cap for a group of bands consisting of 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands together?

# Whether the overall spectrum cap of 35% requires any change to be made?

# In your opinion, what could be the possible reasons for the relative lack of interest for the spectrum in the 2500 MHz band? Could this be attributed to technological reason(s) such as development of network/device ecosystem or availability of substitute spectrum bands or any other reasons(s)?

# Is there any valuation approach other than those discussed above or any international auction experience/ approach that could be used for arriving at the valuation of spectrum for 700 MHz/ 800 MHz/ 900 MHz/ 1800 MHz/ 2100 MHz/ 2300 MHz/ 2500 MHz/ 3300-3670 MHz/ 24.25 – 28.5 GHz/ 526 – 698 MHz bands?

# Should the reserve price be taken as 80 percent of the valuation of the spectrum? If not, then what ratio should be adopted between the reserve price for the auction and the valuation of the spectrum in different spectrum bands and why?

# In case it is decided to earmark some quantum of spectrum for private captive networks, either on exclusive or shared basis, then

spectrums under which band(s) (or frequency range) and quantum of spectrum be earmarked for private networks in each band?

# What steps need to be taken to facilitate identification, development and proliferation of India specific 5G use cases for different verticals for the benefit of the economy and citizens of the country?