5G spectrum auction may be held in early June: Telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

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• Apr 28, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The minister also stated that the Department of Telecom is on track to meet its deadlines and that the process to address industry concerns about spectrum price is underway.

Digital Desk: The government is expected to conduct a 5G spectrum auction in early June, telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed on Thursday. The minister also stated that the Department of Telecom is on track to meet its deadlines and that the process to address industry concerns about spectrum price is underway.

When asked about the schedule of the spectrum auction, Vaishaw stated that it is likely to be in early June. Paving the way for the launch of 5G services, the telecom regulator Trai has proposed a big auction proposal worth over Rs 7.5 lakh crore at the base price across various bands for radio waves allocated over 30 years. "We're on track to complete the auction on schedule," Vaishnaw said.

 The minister also stated that the Digital Communications Commission will decide on the Trai proposals and contact them for clarification. If the government assigns the spectrum for 30 years, the commission has suggested a mega auction plan worth over Rs 7.5 lakh crore for over 1 lakh megahertz spectrum.

As per a back-of-the-envelope calculation, the total value of the proposed spectrum auction will be roughly Rs 5.07 lakh crore at the reserve price if it is held for 20 years. Even though Trai has decreased spectrum prices by around 39% compared to the previous price, telecom providers claim that the suggested rates are higher than worldwide standards.