Sector regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is open to revising the reserve price of the premium 700 Mhz band on the basis of industry consultation which is likely to kick off within the next two weeks.
“Everything will be on table including revision of the 700 Mhz price as a part of consultation process,” Trai chairman RS Sharma told ET, adding that the reserve price would only be fixed basis the outcome of the discussion process.
“Within the stakeholders consultation, we will be asking whether the base price of the 700 Mhz band be revisited,” the regulator added.
In the last auction in October 2016, the premium 700 MHz band airwaves remained unsold with telcos blaming high reserve price on the back of rising industry debt.
Telecom watchdog recommended Rs 11,485 crore per MHz for the 700 MHz band frequencies which is used to rollout fourth-generation (4G) services with lesser capital expenditure having better propagation characteristics.
Sharma said Trai will be releasing consultation on spectrum pricing within next 15 days and added that the auction process would take roughly six months after making recommendations to the government.
“Whatever reference was given to us by the government, it will be the part of upcoming consultation process,” the top official added.
The telecom department (DoT) has asked the regulator to come out with the recommendations for the bidding of airwaves including those that were left unsold in 2016.
The department also sought views on the reserve price for airwaves in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz, as well as for spectrum in the 3400 MHz to 3600 MHz bands used for 5G or fifth-generation services.
