DoT looking at telcos’ pleas on notice period for new service

Mumbai: The telecom department may favourably consider requests by Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel NSE 0.56 % to halve the notice period for starting services based on a new technology to six months, a move that may increase bidding interest in the upcoming spectrum auction.

If the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) approves the requests, the telcos will be allowed to offer 5G services on 4G spectrum bands such as 700 MHz or 800 MHz that also support the faster mobile standard and can be purchased in the March auction. It’s not clear when 5G airwaves in the 3,300-3,600 MHz bands will be auctioned. “Both Airtel and Jio have written to reduce the pre-intimation notice period for a new service.