DoT to seek Trai’s views on 5G; considers spectrum auction in 2020

The Department of Telecom will soon seek sector regulator Trai’s recommendations on pricing and other modalities for coveted 5G bands of 24.75-27.25 GHz, and wants to put this new spectrum up for auction sometime next year, sources said.

This new 5G chunk is separate from the Rs 5.22 trillion spectrum sale plan approved by the Digital Communications Commission on December 20, under which 8,300 MHz of airwaves across 22 circles are set to be put on block in March-April 2020.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) sources said that the government will soon approach Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for its recommendations on ‘millimeter wave bands’ of 24.75-27.25 GHz, coveted bands for 5G.