The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed allowing one-way spectrum sharing among telecom operators, a move aimed at enabling companies to monetise and efficiently deploy unused airwaves, according to a draft notification published by the Ministry of Communications. The draft Telecommunications (Sharing, Trading, and Leasing of Spectrum) Rules, 2025—released on December 1, 2025—marks a shift from the current framework, which permits sharing only within the same frequency band and requires prior government approval.
Cross-Band Sharing Allowed
Under the proposed changes, operators will be allowed to share spectrum across different frequency bands as long as they fall within the same category and telecom circle.
"Sharing of right to use access spectrum may be permitted in a service area...in respect of authorised entities holding same category of authorisation in the same service area ...within each spectrum band category," the draft Telecommunications (Sharing, Trading, and Leasing of Spectrum) Rules, 2025, released on December 1, said.
The draft outlines four spectrum categories: Sub-1 GHz (Category 1), two mid-band groups—Frequency Division Duplex and Time Division Duplex (Categories 2 and 3)—and high-band spectrum (Category 4). For captive 5G networks, no category restrictions will apply.
Eligibility Requirements
"An authorised entity seeking to undertake sharing of right to use access spectrum under these rules, should have held eighty per cent of its spectrum holding in the spectrum band proposed to be shared in a service area, for a period of two years from the date of obtaining such spectrum," the draft states.
The DoT has also proposed replacing the fixed sharing fee with a 0.5 percent charge on the cost of shared spectrum, calculated on a pro-rata basis. The shift from band-level to category-level sharing is expected to give telecom operators greater flexibility in managing spectrum resources and expanding high-bandwidth services.
Furthermore, according to the draft, an authorised entity may enter into only one agreement for sharing the right to use access spectrum within each spectrum-band category.
Sharing of Right to Use Spectrum
Under the present rules, spectrum sharing is allowed only within the same frequency band—for example, a telecom operator holding spectrum in the 900 MHz band can share frequencies only with others holding spectrum in that range. Under the revised rules, a telecom operator with rights to use spectrum in the 700 MHz band would be able to enter into an agreement with another operator holding spectrum in the 900 MHz band. Both the 700 MHz and 900 MHz bands fall under the same category: Sub-1 GHz.
The revised framework could help operators unlock and monetise idle spectrum holdings. At the same time, companies may be able to optimise 5G deployment by accessing unused partner spectrum across bands and circles.
