IMC 2020: Trai has made every effort to ensure affordable spectrum: Secy SK Gupta

The telecom department must ensure adequate availability of affordable 5G spectrum while service providers must initiate 5G trials for testing of India specific use cases, SK Gupta, secretary of the telecom regulatory authority of India (Trai) said.

“I am aware of the concern of the TSPs who feel that adequate spectrum must be allocated to the TSPs and the spectrum price must be reasonable. TRAI has been recommending that all available spectrum should be put to auction so that there is no artificial scarcity of spectrum,” Gupta said in a keynote address at the 4th edition of the India Mobile Congress.

“Further, spectrum sharing and spectrum trading must be encouraged for effective spectrum use. Trai has made every effort to ensure that the price of the spectrum is reasonable and market friendly,” he said.

He added that identification of the development and testing of India specific use cases is an important parameter for success of rollout of 5G in India.

“Trai has already recommended allocation of the spectrum for trial. Service providers have to come forward and initiate testing of India specific use cases.”

He further said that identification of the spectrum in millimeter wave and robust backhaul are critical requirements for effective 5G rollout.

“Presently only 30% of the BTS having optical fiber connectivity and therefore, massive fiberization is the need of the hour,” Gupta said.

“Right of way (RoW) and single window clearance will play an important role to enhance the fiberization activity in India. Though DoT has already made rules to facilitate right of way permission, but the procedure needs to be further simplified and made user friendly.”

The secretary also highlighted the role of E&V band spectrum for facilitating high speed 5G connectivity and said that data privacy and consumer protection will be the key challenges in 5G era.

“I feel 5G is a game changer technology that has sufficient India specific use cases and provides a viable and affordable business model,” Gupta said.