5G Spectrum Auction To Be Held In Early June, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnav Says

The government will likely hold a 5G spectrum auction in early June, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said Thursday.

The Minister said that the Department of Telecommunications is operating as expected and is in the process of resolving industry concerns regarding spectrum pricing.

When asked about the schedule of the spectrum auction, Vaishnav said that it would take place in early June.

After setting the stage for the rollout of 5G services, telecommunications regulator TRAI discussed a plan for a mega-auction worth over Rs. 7.5 crores at the base price in several bands for radio waves spread over 30 years.

“We are fully within the timing of the auction,” Vaishnav said.

The Minister said that the Digital Communications Commission would review TRAI’s recommendations and seek clarification from them.

Watchdog recommended a mega-auction plan worth over Rs. 7.5 million crores for over 1 million megahertz spectrum if the government allocates it for 30 years.

In the case of 20 years, the total value of the proposed spectrum auction would be around Rs. 5.07 lakh crores at the reserve price, according to preliminary calculations.

While TRAI has slashed the price of spectrum by about 39 percent from its last price, carriers have said recommended rates are higher than global benchmarks.