Lok Sabha Question No. 12 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Auctioning of 5G Spectrum
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 12 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th   JULY, 2018

## AUCTIONING OF 5G SPECTRUM

## 12. SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to hold auction of 5G Spectrum in the current financial year and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the said auction is likely to be done;
- (b) whether  the  BSNL  and  MTNL  will  be  introducing  the  5G  technology  to  its customers by directly shifting from 3G to 5G spectrum services in most of their circles and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be done;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  any  specialised  mechanism  has  been  formed  by  the  Government  to carry  out  the  spectrum  bidding/auctioning  so  that  transparency  and  accountability  in such  cases  can  be  maintained  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has prepared any special plan for the implementation of the 5G technology in the rural areas and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT)  has  planned  auction  of  spectrum  in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands. Accordingly, a reference has been sent to Telecom Regulatory Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  on  19.04.2017  seeking  recommendations on  the Reserve Price for auction of right to use the spectrum.

It is for information that the standardisation work in respect of 5G technology is in progress  in  the  International  Telecom  Union  (ITU),  Geneva,  Switzerland  under  the official name of IMT (International Mobile Telecommunication) 2020. After completion of the standardisation work, the frequency bands already auctioned and  proposed to be auctioned can be utilised for deployment of 5G technology.

(b) & (c) At  present,  BSNL  has  no  proposal  for  introducing  the  5G  technology  to their customers by directly shifting from 3G to 5G spectrum services. MTNL also has no plan to launch 5G services as on date.

- (d) For ensuring transparency and accountability, the Government has adopted the following measures in the spectrum auctions:
- (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 the website of DoT.
- (iv) The  auctioneer  is  selected  through  a  transparent  Request  for  Proposal (RFP) process.
- (v) The auction is conducted over the internet through an Electronic Auction System  (EAS)  which  is  subjected  to  security  audit  by  Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) before being applied. The EAS is a  designated  computer  resource  for  the  receiving  of  electronic  records under the provisions of section 13 (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, as amended.
- (vi) Back up of all the auction data including bids received in each round done in real time and is available for subsequent analysis and audit.
- (vii) 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.
- (viii) At the end of each day of the auction, details of clock rounds completed, aggregate demand and provisional bidding price are put up on the website of DoT.

(e) The Government has constituted High Level Forum for 5G India 2020 on 22 nd September 2017 to work on the following, for both urban and rural areas:

- Vision, Mission and Goals for the 5G India 2020, and
- Evaluate, approve roadmaps & action plans for 5G India 2020.

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