The experts from the industry expect the sale to happen in January-March by the year 2022, which would still permit the government to book revenue in this financial year. The government earned around Rs. 78,000 crores from a deal of 4g airwaves in March, out of which Rs 22,000 crores was procured ahead of time before the closing of the previous financial year.
The 5G auctions in India are supposed to be published by the quarter of 2022 in the initial months, with the Department of Telecommunications presently being occupied with making sure that the networks are stable amidst pandemic and important decisions expected on spectrum availability and pricing.
A senior government official, without being wanted to identify him, said that it is not likely that auctions will be happening this year. The official also added that the focus primarily is on keeping the networks stable. Another official also claimed that there is no need for an early sale, given that 5G trials are just starting to develop local use cases.
The 5g spectrum is allowed to carry out trials before buying it, unlike the 3G and 4G, where companies tried the technology after the government doing the auction for airwaves. Although, the officials stated that the time period could be extended, counting on the progress that companies make, and if that is the scenario, 5G auctions may be moved further.
An official also added that there might be a possibility that telcos may ask for time to start the 5G trials, especially for indigenous developed 5G tech.
Official and industry experts said that there are vital operational issues that need to be looked upon, which will take time. Department of Telecommunications must refer to the pricing of the 700 MHz spectrum band, which was not sold again in March.
Besides, the government authorities must look into the demands by telcos to facilitate auctions that are important millimeter waves 26GHz and 28 GHz. Without this, India is expected to jump several folds making ultra-fast wireless broadband unaffordable.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has featured the only spectrum in the 3.3-3.6 GHz bands for the service of 5G. Trai fastened the base price of 5g airwaves at Rs. 492 crores for one unit, which is way too much to find bidders, says telcos.
“In addition, DoT needs to take a call on whether to auction E&V bands, considered ideal for high-speed 5G services,” an industry expert stated.
The telcos opinion is to auction the bands but the technology organizations claim allocation should take place administratively since bands are for backhaul needs not for access which allows direct communication services.
Telcos also claim that the E band spectrum – amidst 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz – and the ones in V band – 57-64 GHz – can pass on data at lightning speeds by 1,000 megabits per second, which turns out to be just apt as they go for 5G.
The three private telcos said they are all set to go 5G within months of receiving the spectrum but also bought out the point of lacking cases currently. Approximately 300 million Indians still use feature phones and a lot are still in the process to turn to 4G.
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