The government is reportedly working on an updated version of the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2022. According to industry sources, the updated NFAP may provide a clearer picture of whether satellite spectrum should be allocated administratively or auctioned, which has remained one of the most contentious issues in the Draft Indian Telecommunication Billl.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released NFAP in October 2022. After consistent demand from telecom companies, new spectrum bands such as 26 GHz, which have been identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 5G deployment, were identified in NFAP 2022. Similarly, the updated NFAP may also open up newer spectrums for the next round of 5G auction and deployment that is set to be held in the current financial year. The government is working on identifying new bands to be included in that round, and a consultation on the same by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to be released soon.
