Bharti Airtel (Airtel) and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) have reportedly aligned with technology companies and equipment makers in supporting administrative allocation of microwave spectrum, diverging from Reliance Jio’s stance, which advocates auctions for all microwave and E/V bands. Jio argued that auctions are essential to prevent spectrum hoarding and ensure efficient use of backhaul airwaves.
The debate followed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) consultation on new rules for allocation, pricing, and quantity of microwave spectrum across bands such as 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz, and the E and V bands. While the new Telecom Act, 2023 permits administrative allocation for radio backhaul, TRAI clarified that last-mile fixed wireless access (FWA) spectrum will be allocated via auctions.
Microwave spectrum, which powers backhaul links for over 60 per cent of mobile towers in India, is seeing unprecedented demand due to 5G expansion and rapid digitalisation. Telcos are urging the regulator to rationalise pricing, calling the current spectrum usage charges (SUC) model, tied to adjusted gross revenue (AGR), unviable. They suggest switching to a flat, predictable pricing model to promote wider network rollout.
Satellite communication providers like Amazon Kuiper expressed concerns over potential interference in shared bands such as 18 GHz and the E-band, which are critical for fixed-satellite services (FSS). They have urged coexistence studies and limited terrestrial use in these bands to point-to-point links only, proposals that telcos are pushing back against.
Meanwhile, the Broadband India Forum (BIF), representing network vendors and broadband players, has opposed allocating 6 GHz and 7 GHz bands for backhaul, advocating instead for their delicensing to support high-capacity Wi-Fi and reserving 7 GHz for licensed mobile services (IMT). Telcos, however, objected to proposals for delicensing significant parts of the V-band (57-71 GHz), citing risks to their business models.
Despite the differences, most stakeholders have agreed to defer regulatory decisions on the 7 GHz and 15 GHz bands until after the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027 (WRC-27), to ensure alignment with global standards and avoid future planning conflicts.
Furthermore, telcos have also expressed opposition to earmarking spectrum for exclusive captive use, recommending instead that such users lease spectrum from telecom service providers.
