The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will likely approach the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to auction a new set of spectrum bands along with radio waves held by permits, which will expire in 2024. DoT is expected to have the auction for the 37 GHz band in the March quarter of the current fiscal year.
The reference will also likely include the auction of spectrum in the 600 MHz band as well as the unsold frequency from the auction held in 2022. DoT is expecting TRAI to recommend auction guidelines for the satellite communication spectrum soon so that it can be included in the auction. However, only one participant has demanded the spectrum allocation administratively instead of assigning it through auction.
Some licences of Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are reportedly set to expire in 2024 allowing the spectrum held through these permits also to be put for auction. DoT would require TRAI’s recommendation latest by January 2024 to conduct the auction
