TRAI seeks views on assignment of microwave spectrum in lower 6GHz, E&V-bands
NEW DELHI: The
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(
TRAI
) on Wednesday floated a consultation paper to seek stakeholders' views on the assignment of the microwave spectrum in the lower 6GHz band, 7GHz, 15GHz, 18GHz, 21GHz bands, and E & V bands.
In August 2022, the Department of Telecommunications had requested the telecom regulator to provide recommendations for the assignment of spectrum in
E&V bands
and microwave access (MWA) and microwave backbone (MWB) spectrum in frequency bands of 6GHz/7GHz/13GHz/15GHz/18GHz/21GHz.
In this regard, TRAI released a consultation paper on the assignment of spectrum in E&V Bands, and Microwave Access (MWA) and Microwave Backbone (MWB) for stakeholders' inputs on the subject.
However, in the meantime, the Central government enacted the Telecommunication Act, 2023, in December 2023. Subsequently, the telecom watchdog told DoT that a review may be needed on the abovementioned topic.
In response, the DoT, through a fresh reference letter in September 2024, while agreeing to the TRAI's observation that backhaul spectrum is a part of the First Schedule of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 for which the assignment method would be administrative, requested TRAI to provide recommendations under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 on aspects such as demand assessment and scope of service or usage for V-band (57-66GHz) and E-band (81-86GHz), and the mode of assignment of spectrum and associated tersm and conditions.
The DoT had also asked TRAI to provide its suggestions on
spectrum charges
and related terms & conditions, such as spectrum cap, carrier aggregation, etc., for the assignment of spectrum in lower 6GHz)/7GHz/13GHz/15GHz/18GHz/21GHz bands for backhaul purposes of commercial telecom services, and if there is any need to review the use of the 7GHz and 15GHz bands in view of consideration of these bands for Access using International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) after World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) - 2027.
To this extent, stakeholders can submit their views on the consultation paper by June 25, and counter-comments by July 9.
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