Spectrum prices need significant, not marginal, lowering: Broadband India Forum

NEW DELHI: A day after Trai held its ground on spectrum pricing, Broadband India Forum (BIF) Tuesday said it firmly believes spectrum prices recommended by the telecom regulator are “extremely high” with potential to dampen 5G plans, and urged policy makers to take a calibrated view on the issue. The broadband industry body said policy makers should look at lowering the base prices, not marginally but significantly, and argued that demand for radiowaves by operators will drive a suitable price discovery.
“We expect that at the recommended prices, the participation in auctions could be adversely impacted. It will not be a big success, and it will impact Digital India objectives…It will adversely affect 5G,” T V Ramachandran, president of BIF, told .