Trai to seek views on allocating E,V spectrum bands
E and V bands spectrum and backhaul carriers to telecom operators, a move that is set to rekindle a battle between telecom and tech companies.
Officials aware of the details told ET that Trai is likely to treat E and V bands separately as they have slightly different characteristics. While E band (71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz) is being primarily used for 5G backhaul, the usage of V band spectrum (57-64 GHz and 64-71 GHz) has not become prevalent so far.
Further, a certain quantum in the V band may be delicensed, or allotted without auctions, for indoor coverage.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in its reference to Trai, is believed to have said that any delicensed spectrum can be used only for indoor coverage while for outside mobility services and backhaul, companies must buy the spectrum in an auction. «DoT has suggested a certain quantum in V band can be delicensed for indoor coverage,» an official said.
DoT had last year written to Trai to give recommendations for auction of E and V bands spectrum. Another official said that while DoT has asked for recommendations for auction of these bands, Trai is expected to discuss the matter at length, like in the case of satellite spectrum, wherein administrative allocation was also listed out as one of the options.
«We will discuss with stakeholders what is the best way to allocate these airwaves,» said an official. Apart from E and V bands, Trai will also finalise a new allocation mechanism for backhaul carriers, which have been given administratively to telecom operators so far.
Currently, frequencies in the 6/7/13/15/18/21 GHz bands are used as backhaul spectrum and older telcos like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have been using the same set of frequencies for a
