The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has requested clarification from the government on the allocation of backhaul spectrum, particularly in the E and V bands, following the new Indian Telecommunications Act 2023, which mandates that such spectrum be allocated administratively.
The Act defines ‘radio backhaul’ as the use of radio frequencies to interconnect telecom equipment, excluding customer devices. The clarification became important as TRAI had listed out different options, including auction, to allocate backhaul spectrum in its consultation paper. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) too had said spectrum in the E and V bands can be given through auction, though certain quantum in the V band can be delicensed for indoor coverage.
Currently, the E band is mainly used for 5G backhaul, while V band usage remains limited. Following the 5G spectrum auction in 2022, E band spectrum was provisionally allocated to telecom firms on an administrative basis. However, with the new Act in place, TRAI is seeking DoT’s guidance on which frequencies should be allocated for backhaul and the criteria for their distribution.
Further, there is a divide among telecom operators on this issue. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) support the continuation of administrative allocation, while Reliance Jio advocates for auctions. TRAI has also sought clarity on how spectrum, like in the E band, can be given to satellite-based telecom networks as the Act states that airwaves for satellite communications should also be given administratively.
