TRAI Needs to Lower Reserve Price of 5G Spectrum

For the industry to proceed ahead with the 5G developments peacefully, the telcos need to know the new reserve price of the 5G spectrum (3300 MHz – 3600 MHz). There is no doubt that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will cut the reserve price of the 5G spectrum; the only question is what will be the final price.

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The telcos need the 5G spectrum at an affordable rate so that they can make the network rollout feasible, which in turn will make it affordable for the end consumers of the technology to purchase services. According to a FinancialExpress report, the government is also of the same view that the sector regulator should bring down the prices of the 5G spectrum.

TRAI Must Consider 700 MHz Band’s Price Too

It is not just the airwaves in the 3300 MHz – 3600 MHz bands but also the 700 MHz band that will need to be availed to the telcos at a revised price. This is because none of the telcos purchased a single block of airwaves in the coveted 700 MHz band in the recently held spectrum auctions because of its unfairly high reserve price.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) doesn’t want to take any more chances and wants TRAI to reconsider the pricing of the airwaves. One of the biggest reasons why the government is worried about the 5G spectrum not selling is that the telcos haven’t shown any pressing need for the spectrum.