The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has urged companies and stakeholders to submit their opinion on the allocation of spectrum for 5G services by February 15, according to a PTI report. The decision was taken after there was a disagreement between telecom operators and satellite companies at TRAI’s open house consultation held on February 8, 2022, the report added. Reliance Jio’s President of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Ravi Gandhi, Airtel’s Chief Regulatory Officer Rahul Vatts, and COAI Deputy Director General Vikram Tiwathia recommended that TRAI should fix the base price of 5G spectrum in mid-band and high frequency band using international benchmarks, Free Press Journal reported. TRAI should map international pricing benchmarks at telecom circle level by using a matrix of average revenue per user, GDP of the country, etc., the representatives added. TRAI had earlier recommended base price of proposed 5G spectrum in 3,300-3,600 Mhz band at about Rs. 492 crores per Mhz unpaired spectrum on pan-India basis which will mean telecom operators will have to shell out a minimum of Rs. 9,840 crores to buy spectrum in the 3,300-3,600 Mhz band, the newspaper explained. The auction of 5G spectrum will be held this year according to the Indian government. The comments made during the consultation provide an insight into expectations of various players who would be crucial in rolling out 5G services across India. What did the telcos demand? Reliance Jio: Gandhi argued that the base price of spectrum in higher frequency bands of 24.5 Ghz to…
