Lok Sabha Question No. 2417 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Allocation of 4G Spectrum to BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2417 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## ALLOCATION OF 4G SPECTRUM TO BSNL AND MTNL

## 2417. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of private Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) that have 4G spectrum;
- (b) whether the Government has allocated 4G spectrum to BSNL and MTNL and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  BSNL  and  MTNL  have  long  been  requesting  for  allocation  of  the  said spectrum and if so, the reasons for not acceding to the said request of these companies; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to allocate the said spectrum to these companies?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The following private Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have been allotted spectrum in 800  MHz,  900MHz,  1800  MHz,  2100  MHz,  2300  MHz  and  2500  MHz  bands  on  market determined price to provide mobile services deploying any technology including 4G.  They have also been allotted spectrum on administrative basis. It can be liberalized and be used for any technology including 4G.

1. Aircel Limited / Dishnet Wireless Limited,
2. Bharti Airtel Limited,
3. Reliance Communications Limited / Reliance Telecom Limited,
4. Tata Teleservices Limited / Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited,
5. Vodafone Idea Limited
6. Reliance JioInfocomm Limited

(b) to (d) Spectrum  has  been  allotted  to  both  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  & Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) in 2100 MHz band and  to BSNLin 2500 MHz band, at market determined price and therefore they can deploy any technology including 4G services. The details of such spectrum holdings are enclosed as Annexure-I. BSNL has already started 4G services in a few Licensed Service Areas (LSAs). However, keeping in view of the data  driven  telecom  scenario  where  around  85%  of  the  data  usage  is  through  4G  services, BSNL and MTNL have submitted proposal to allot spectrum for providing 4G services to remain competitive in the telecom market.

The proposals are under consideration of the Department.

| Spectrum Holding   | Spectrum Holding     | 2100 MHz   | 2100 MHz   | 2500 MHz   |
|--------------------|----------------------|------------|------------|------------|
| Sl No.             | Service Area         | BSNL (MHz) | MTNL (MHz) | BSNL (MHz) |
| 1                  | Andhra Pradesh       | 10.0       | ----       | ----       |
| 2                  | Assam                | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 3                  | Bihar                | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 4                  | Delhi                | ---        | 10.0       | ----       |
| 5                  | Gujarat              | 10.0       | ----       | ----       |
| 6                  | Haryana              | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 7                  | Himachal Pradesh     | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 8                  | Jammu & Kashmir      | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 9                  | Karnataka            | 10.0       | ----       | ----       |
| 10                 | Kerala               | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 11                 | Kolkata              | 10.0       | ----       | ----       |
| 12                 | Madhya Pradesh       | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 13                 | Maharashtra          | 10.0       | ----       | ----       |
| 14                 | Mumbai               | ----       | 10.0       | ----       |
| 15                 | North East           | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 16                 | Orissa               | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 17                 | Punjab               | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 18                 | Rajasthan            | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 19                 | Tamil Nadu           | 10.0       | ----       | ----       |
| 20                 | Uttar Pradesh (East) | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 21                 | Uttar Pradesh (West) | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
| 22                 | West Bengal          | 10.0       | ----       | 20.0       |
|                    | Total                | 200        | 20         | 280        |

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