The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through its letter dated May 15, 2025, requested TRAI to provide recommendations under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended) on the applicable reserve price, band plan, block size, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, and associated conditions for auction of spectrum in the existing bands viz. 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz. DoT also sought TRAI’s recommendations on the feasibility and timing of auction of the newly identified 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz bands, as well as fresh recommendations on the auction of spectrum in the 600 MHz band. Subsequently, DoT, through its letter dated August 14, 2025, requested TRAI to recommend a possible band plan for the 67 MHz spectrum between 1427-1518 MHz considering the need to assign a continuous 24 MHz block to the government user.

In this regard, TRAI issued a consultation paper on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for IMT on September 30, 2025 for seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the consultation paper. Initially, the last dates for furnishing comments and counter comments were October 28, 2025 and November 11, 2025, respectively. However, considering the request of industry associations and stakeholders, the last dates for furnishing written comments and counter comments were extended to November 4, 2025 and November 18, 2025, respectively.

In response to the issues raised in the consultation paper, 19 stakeholders furnished comments, and 12 stakeholders furnished counter comments. As part of the consultation process, TRAI conducted an open house discussion on the consultation paper through virtual mode on December 12, 2025.

Based on the comments received from stakeholders during the consultation process, and further analysis, TRAI has finalized its Recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for IMT.  Some salient points of the recommendations are given below:

  • Entire available spectrum in the 600 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz frequency bands should be put to auction in the forthcoming auction.
  • DoT should immediately initiate action for taking back the spectrum held with the telecom service providers, which are engaged in corporate insolvency resolution process under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, and such spectrum should be put to auction in the forthcoming spectrum auction.
  • A spectrum cap of 35 per cent on the total spectrum available for access services in the 600 MHz band (rounded off considering the block size in the 600 MHz band).
  • A spectrum cap of 35 per cent on the combined spectrum available for access services (including the spectrum assigned to private telecom service providers, and the spectrum assigned to/ reserved for public sector undertaking operators – for providing access services) in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands.
  • Considering the importance of the 6 GHz (upper) band, it should be kept reserved for IMT. The available frequency ranges in the 6 GHz (upper) band, viz. 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz should not be put to auction in the forthcoming auction. The issue of auctioning the spectrum in the 6 GHz (upper) band should be re-examined after considering the outcome of ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2027.