TRAI Releases Consultation Paper on Spectrum Auction for IMT Bands

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, released a consultation paper on the auction of radio frequency spectrum in bands earmarked for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT). The move follows a reference from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) dated May 15, 2025, under clause 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, seeking fresh recommendations on several spectrum bands.

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Also Read: Timeline: The Journey of India’s 26 GHz Spectrum Allocation and Utilisation

600 MHz Band

In its reference, DoT noted that while auctions were conducted in June 2024 for spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands, certain critical bands were not put up for sale. The 600 MHz band, for instance, was withheld due to limited global adoption and an underdeveloped equipment ecosystem. The DoT has now sought TRAI’s fresh recommendations on this band.

“In the ITU Radio Regulations also, this band [600 MHz band] has not been identified at the regional or global level for IMT. Therefore, DoT has decided to seek fresh recommendations of TRAI before putting this band for auction,” the Ministry of Communications said.

6 GHz Band

On the 6 GHz spectrum (6425–7125 MHz), the DoT highlighted that of the total 700 MHz spectrum, only 400 MHz is currently available in fragmented blocks—300 MHz in the 6425–6725 MHz range and 100 MHz in the 7025–7125 MHz range. The remaining 300 MHz, falling between 6725–7025 MHz, will only be vacated by December 2030. TRAI has been asked to examine the timing and modalities of auctioning this band, given the limited ecosystem readiness.