The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is reportedly preparing to charge telecom operators for the use of high-frequency radio bands currently used for microwave backhaul, marking a significant shift in policy aimed at monetising India’s wireless infrastructure.
These high-frequency bands, 6 gigahertz (GHz), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, and 21 GHz, are critical for tower-to-tower communication and are extensively used by operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) to transmit data and voice traffic between telecom towers. Until now, these bands were available with only a nominal spectrum usage charge (SUC) and no dedicated fee.
In collaboration with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the government is now working to define the terms of assignment for these frequencies, including establishing a reserve price or base tariff. These terms are likely to be finalised and announced within the next two to three months, following consultations with telecom operators and industry stakeholders.
Further, the move is expected to increase operational costs for telecom players, who are already under financial pressure due to outstanding adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.
This development follows closely on the heels of the government notifying draft rules to delicense the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) to support next-gen Wi-Fi services. While that initiative focuses on expanding public internet access and innovation, the current proposal aims to regulate and monetise spectrum exclusively used for core telecom network infrastructure.
