Govt eyes annual spectrum auctions, real-time trading

Nov 24, 2021

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NEW DELHI: In what could be a significant reform for the telecom sector, the federal government has began work on having annual public sale of spectrum to make sure that the business has sufficient provides of the airwaves. The federal government can also be engaged on a proposal of getting real-time spectrum buying and selling, on the strains of buying and selling of electrical energy.
High sources throughout the authorities instructed TOI that the matter of liberalised spectrum norms was mentioned “on the ministry stage and in addition on the PM’s evaluate of the telecom sector”, and thereafter a reference has additionally been despatched to sector regulator Trai.
Importantly, the proposal of annual auctions comes inside two months of the federal government’s announcement of a bailout-cum-relief package deal for the telecom business. Below this, the businesses got a brand new regime of decrease taxes, longer spectrum holdings (from 20 years to 30 years in future sale), snug financial institution ensures, and simpler airwave give up norms.
The concept of getting annual spectrum auctions throughout pre-decided months is being thought-about with a timeline of fiscal 2023-24, as the federal government needs the business to be assured of normal provides. This may be essential as technological developments occur at a fast tempo and the necessity for airwaves might go up in view of recent functions round web of issues (IoT), augmented and digital actuality (AR/VR), sensible factories, autonomous driving, and immersive training and medical services.
“If the business is assured of normal availability of spectrum, then there can be no mad rush to purchase the airwaves at astronomical prices on the time of auctions, as has occurred beforehand. Among the earlier gross sales have seen firms go overboard through the bidding and thereafter hamper their monetary positions, which has led to the deterioration of the well being of the business,” one of many sources stated.
The federal government feels that to facilitate simpler migration to new applied sciences resembling 5G and even greater upgrades, spectrum ought to be made obtainable in sufficient portions and at common intervals. “A reference to Trai, looking for its suggestions on points concerned in public sale of spectrum in numerous bands obtainable for project to telecom firms, has been despatched in September. We count on motion on this entrance over the approaching months as Trai comes out with its set of suggestions and options.”



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