Lok Sabha Question No. 2753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Concerns on 5G Spectrum Auction
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, P.R. Natarajan, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH   JULY, 2019

## CONCERNS ON 5G SPECTRUM AUCTION

## 2753.   DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI P.R. NATARAJAN:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHANA RAJU:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to conduct spectrum auction, including for 5G services in the  current  financial  year  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  details  regarding  quantum  of spectrum available and the quantum of spectrum to be auctioned along with the reserve price decided by the Government for the same;
- (b) whether the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)  have raised  any concerns on the reportedly high reserve price of the 5G spectrum and requested the Government to reduce the same and postpone the  said  auction  to  the  next  year  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto;
- (c) whether the trials for 5G services have started in few cities of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to use 5G technology for deprived sections, social causes, education and health and for bringing technology to rural people and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to conduct fair and transparent auction of spectrum; and
- (f) whether the Government is considering the request of BSNL for concession in payment for 5G licence and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had provided its recommendations for the auction of spectrum in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz,  3300-3400  MHz  and  3400-3600  MHz  bands  on  01.08.2018  for  providing  Access  services using any technology including 5G. The recommendations were examined by an Expert Committee and subsequently by a Standing Committee in the department. The recommendations of the Standing

Committee were considered by the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) and based on the decision of the DCC a back reference to TRAI on some of the recommendations was sent. Based on the reply from TRAI on the back reference, a final decision will be taken by the Government for the auction of spectrum.

(b) Broadband  India  Forum,  has  forwarded  a  letter  to  TRAI  for  the  review  of  the  TRAI recommendations dated 01.08.2018, a copy of which was also endorsed to this Department. However the comments of TRAI on the same has not been received in the Department.

(c) The  Department  of  Telecommunications  has  invited  major  global  Original  Equipment Manufacturers  (OEMs)  for  5G  technology  trials  in  India  along  with  Indian  Telecom  Service Providers, start-ups, local vendors and academia.  Technology trials are expected to start soon.

(d) 5G is the next generation of cellular communications technology. The cellular communications  technologies  like  3G,  4G  etc  are  used  across  various  sectors,  viz.  Education, Healthcare,  Agriculture,  Public  safety,  Banking  &  finance,  Automobile  industry,  Smart  cities  etc. Similarly, 5G technology may be used for various sectors including health and education.

- (e) The  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  fair  and  transparent  auction  of  spectrum  are  as follows:
- i. The details of auction are transparently placed in public domain through a 'Notice Inviting Application'  (NIA)  which  includes  inter  alia,  the  rules  of  auction  process,  timelines, details of spectrum being auctioned, eligibility criteria, procedure for awarding spectrum.
- ii. The process is open to all potential bidders on a non-discriminatory basis.
- iii. The  process  allows  for  queries  to  be  raised  by  potential  bidders  and  such  concerns  are addressed through a 'Queries and Responses' document which is also placed on DoT's website.
- iv. The auctioneer is selected through a transparent Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
- v. The auction is conducted online through an Electronic Auction System (EAS) for which prior  security  audit  by  Standardisation  Testing  and  Quality  Certification  (STQC)  is mandatory.
- vi. The EAS has to be compliant with Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW).
- vii. Back up of all the auction data including bids received in each round is done in real time and is available for subsequent analysis and audit.
- viii. Prior  to  the  start  of  the  auction,  the  Government  makes  public  the  list  of  pre-qualified bidders as well as the information about their ownership structures.
- ix. At the end of each day of the auction, details of the clock rounds completed, the aggregate demand  and  the  provisional  bidding  price  are  uploaded  on  Department  of  Telecom website.
- (f) No such request was received from BSNL in this regard.

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