India’s Wait For 5G To Shorten As DCC Approves Rs 5.2 Trillion Spectrum Auction

The nation's wait for experiencing fifth generation (5G) telecommunication services is set to get shorter as the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on Friday (20 December) approved the Rs 5.2 trillion spectrum auction, reports Hindu Businessline.

The auction will put on offer a total of 8,300 Mhz of airwaves of which 6,050 Mhz will be available for 5G. The developments were made public by Anshu Prakash, who is the Secretary, Department of Telecommunications. Prakash also shared that the bids for the spectrum auction will be opened on 13 January. The final sale is expected to take place in March-April.

Also, the DCC has decided to set aside 225 Mhz of 4G spectrum for state-owned telecom giant BSNL. Further, the Government has also decided to set aside a part of the spectrum for Indian Railways.

It should be noted that the DCC has decided to make no changes to the reserve pricing of the spectrum finalised by the telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Responding to the development, Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI said “With spectrum reserve prices four to six times higher than that of similar spectrum sold recently in several countries, and with high levels of debt and prevailing financial stress in the sector, telecom service providers will find it very difficult to raise funds to participate in the auctions.”