The telecom regulator will come out with its much awaited recommendations on 5G spectrum pricing and other modalities for the upcoming auction in the next seven to 10 days. Telecom players, lobbying for a cut in the reserve price, were expecting the recommendations in this month itself.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) secretary V. Raghunandan said the spectrum reference given to the regulator spanned multiple bands and thereby involved detailed and exhaustive deliberations.

“We are in the final stages, and will come out with the recommendations shortly in 7-10 days,” Raghunandan said. The Centre wants the 5G services to be launched before the Independence Day, according to the telecom department.

Trai had released a detailed consultation paper in November to discuss threadbare the modalities for auction of spectrum across multiple bands, including pricing, quantum and other conditions.

The Trai paper runs into 207 pages and throws up 74 questions for industry-wide discussion, touching on crucial aspects such as valuation and reserve price of 5G spectrum, quantum of the spectrum, block size, eligibility conditions for participation in the auction, roll-out obligations, spectrum cap and surrender of the spectrum.

Norms will also be worked out for new frequencies such as 526-698Mhz and millimetre band that is 24.25-28.5 Ghz, in addition to bands such as 700Mhz, 800Mhz, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, 2100Mhz, 2300Mhz, 2500Mhz, and 3300-3670Mhz.

The last round of spectrum auctions held in March 2021 had raked in winning bids of over Rs 77,800 crore for 855.6Mhz of spectrum. Nearly 63 per cent of the total spectrum remained unsold.