As the government gears up to conduct the next round of spectrum auction, telecom firms have sought clarity if 5G can be launched on the airwaves purchased via this sale. Though spectrum assigned via auction is technologies-neutral as also the unified licence, the omission of 5G in the notice inviting application (NIA) issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) led some telcos to seek a clarification on Tuesday.
Moreover, the NIA has particularly stated that operators wanting to use new technologies have to seek prior clearance.
Bidding for the auction will commence on March 1, and airwaves worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore will be up for sale. A total of 2,251 MHz spectrum in seven bands ranging from 700 MHz to 2500 MHz will be auctioned. Airwaves for 5G (3300 MHz-3600 MHz) will not be auctioned this time.
The DoT has asked the operators to send their written queries by Friday, immediately after which a clarification will be issued.
As per the NIA, spectrum blocks in the liberalised spectrum or acquired via auctions could be combined if needed by technologies and there are no restrictions on the technologies to be deployed for giving services inside the scope of the service licence, offered it is compatible with technologies currently deployed in the licensed service region (LSA).
The profitable bidder shall provide information of the technologies proposed to be deployed for operation of its services employing the spectrum block assigned via this auction inside one particular month of getting licence, if the technologies occurs to be GSM/ WCDMA/ LTE/ CDMA. “In case of switching over to a different technology (other than GSM/ WCDMA/ LTE/ CDMA), while rolling out the networks for compliance of roll out obligations, information regarding the new technology should be given at least one year before any new technology base station site is offered for testing,” the NIA stated.
The technologies ought to be primarily based on requirements authorized by ITU/ TEC or any other international requirements organisation. The telcos will be permitted to use added spectrum purchased via this auction to deploy any technologies other than GSM/ CDMA immediately after converting their whole administratively assigned spectrum into liberalised spectrum in the very same band.
The NIA additional stated in case of adjust of technologies, the licensees should make certain continuity of coverage, provisioning, delivery, high quality of services in the network deployed with earlier technologies. “For use of technology other than GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, and LTE, prior clearance will be required to ensure that harmful interference is not caused to the already operating technologies either in the same band or in the adjacent bands,” the NIA stated.
Reliance Jio has stated in the previous that it plans to roll out 5G services in the second half of 2021, but as 5G spectrum is not getting auctioned, the telco could have to use spectrum purchased via this sale to launch 5G. The operator has currently created an in-home 5G resolution that it plans to deploy to launch services.