The DoT is likely to send a proposal for a 5G spectrum auction to the cabinet next week

The telecom department may transfer the 5G spectrum auction proposal to the Union Cabinet for final approval next week, an official source said on Tuesday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Digital Communications Commission has finalized the base price proposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

“The DCC has strengthened its position. It is not a decision-making body. It will recommend to the Cabinet for final approval of the auction plan. There is no change in the base price as recommended by TRAI, ”the official said.

Telecom operators have opposed the base price proposed by regulator TRAI. DCC has decided to leave the spectrum frequency range between 27.5-28.5 GHz for satellite service without auctioning.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended a base price for this frequency range and suggested that it could be used for both mobile as well as satellite services.

The regulator left it to the government to decide whether it wants to auction 27.5-28.5 GHz in its response to the DoT last week.

The DCC also approved the TRAI recommendation to allow the installation of private wireless or 5G networks for captive use. TRAI has planned a mega auction of over Rs 7.5 lakh crore at a base price across multiple bands for radiowaves allocated for more than 30 years.

Overall, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended a reduction of about 39 per cent in reserve or floor price for spectrum sales for mobile services, including the latest 5G offer, as it matches revenue expectations with industry financing. Power

Watchdog has recommended a mega auction plan of more than Rs 7.5 lakh crore for 1 lakh MHz spectrum if the government allocates it for 30 years.

In 20 years, the total value of the proposed spectrum auction will stand at a reserve price of around Rs 5.07 trillion, according to back-of-the-envelope calculations.

With a lot of spectrum unsold in the last two auctions, TRAI sells airwaves in all existing bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2300 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2300 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz. Has recommended the government to do. 600 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 Ghz.

This suggests a lower reserve price for all bands than the last proposed price in 2018.