The Department of Telecommunications has decided to auction the spectrum in E & V bands, and may shortly send a reference to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to seek stakeholders’ comments on pricing and allocation methodologies to telecom operators and technology companies, as per a report by a trusted source.

E (71-76GHz & 81-86GHz ranges) & V (60GHz range) bands are considered suitable for providing high-speed broadband services in rural areas. These bands are also said to be suited for in-building solutions.

The Telecom department has provisionally decided to allocate E-band spectrum to telcos to assist in launching of 5G services, considering that the 5G spectrum auction is scheduled from July 26, the report added. Telcos, however, will have to pay the market prices for E-band whenever it is auctioned at a later date.

Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the highest decision-making of the telecom department in April this year backed a Trai recommendation on a need-based, circle-wise allocation of E-band spectrum to telcos initially via the administrative route, with a rider that telcos would have to pay for these airwaves in future based on an auction-based pricing mechanism determined by the regulator.