The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper titled ?Valuation and Reserve price of Spectrum: 2100 MHz band?. This comes after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requested TRAI to expedite the process for its recommendations on the reserve price of the 2100 MHz band and issues related to the auction of spectrum in this band alongside the auction of spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1800 MHz bands, to be conducted in February 2015.
Earlier, DoT was planning to conduct spectrum auctions in two phases, between February 2015 and May 2015. But this move was objected by telecom operators on the grounds that the 2100 MHz band is not a substitute for existing GSM operators. The impeding issue before the department is that conducting auction of 2100 MHz spectrum with the other bands requires more spectrum than the quantum is available right now. Presently, DoT is in discussions with the Ministry of Defense for the vacation of spectrum in the 2100 MHz band.
The key issues raised in the consultation paper include roll-out obligations, spectrum cap, different models for the valuation of spectrum and the estimation of reserve price of spectrum. TRAI has invited comments from key stakeholders on this consultation paper by December 15, 2014 and counter comments by December 19, 2014. Further an open house discussion will be kept regarding the same on December 22, 2014 in New Delhi.
