ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI) has suggested that the 5G spectrum prices in all bands in India should be priced reasonably. The 5G spectrum bands in India include both below 6GHz and millimeterwave (mmWave) bands above 24GHz. IAFI is of the opinion that the expected price for the 5G spectrum are fairly high in comparison to the rest of world.
IAFI submitted its recommendations through Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s consultation paper on spectrum auction for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)/5G. IAFI recommended that the reserve price for the 700MHz should be Rs 5 billion for nationwide spectrum per MHz, Rs 1 billion for C-band, and Rs 800 million for mmWave band per 10MHz for nationwide spectrum.
IAFI also stressed in its submission of consultation paper that in the previously failed auctions of 700 MHz, the average reserve price fixed for the auction in 700 MHz in February 2021 was about $1.89 per MHz per pop (adjusted for PPP) which is 34 times higher than that set Internationally ($0.05) and is also higher than the mean winning bid price witnessed worldwide ($0.54).
Similarly for the C-band spectrum, it said that the telecom regulator had recommended a reserve price of $0.05 per MHz per POP, manifold high than the average price seen at recent spectrum auctions around the world.
The new 5G bands proposed for auction include the super-efficient 600MHz and millimeter spectrum in the 24.25-28.5GHz band. Besides, airwaves in the 700MHz, 800Mhz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2500MHz, and 3.3-3.67GHz bands are also under consideration.
IAFI believes that the complete available spectrum in the 600 (612-703)/700/ 800/ 900MHz, 1800/ 2100/ 2300/ 2500MHz, along with 3300-3670MHz and 24.25 – 28.5GHz bands should be auctioned.
