To find a better strategy for selling and using radio frequency spectra over the next 10 years, including 5G bands, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reached out to industry and academia for their contributions.
The DoT was looking for input on three main aspects of the radio frequency spectrum; B. According to the changes required in the current methodology of frequency allocation, according to the frequency bands that should be considered for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) and 5G in India, as well as other telecommunication spectrum allocations that the industry has the need for the next 10 years sees.
All three private telecommunications providers, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel and Vi, have asked the DoT to create a clear roadmap for frequency allocation and the 5G frequency bands so that they can plan the rollout of their services accordingly. The Indian Cellular Operators Association, which represents the three telecommunications companies, had also stated in a statement last week that the spectrum that had already been identified for IMT and 5G according to the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) of 2018 should for mobile services.
“If the spectrum is acquired by auction, no usage fee should be charged for the spectrum because the market price has already been paid. This was a long-standing request to rationalize the pricing of frequencies and compare them with international standards, ”said the general manager of COAI, Lieutenant General SP Kochhar.
According to NFAP 2018, the DoT then actively considered allocating frequencies of 25.25, 27.5, 31.8 and 37 GHz in the millimeter bands, as well as bands below 6 GHz for 5G services. However, the allocation of frequencies in 5G has not yet been made, as the DoT is still in discussions with various other departments of the government such as the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense about the separation of frequencies for commercial and other purposes.
The millimeter wave band or the extremely high frequency frequency spectrum is mainly designed for use in airport security scanners, video surveillance systems, scientific research, machine-to-machine communication and military fire fighting.
This new spectrum in the 5G band, known as the “millimeter wave band”, differs from the auction for 4G at 2251.25 MHz, which is scheduled to start on March 1st. On December 16, 2020, the Cabinet had approved the sale of this spectrum over seven years of frequency bands at a minimum price of 3.92 billion rupees.
