Lok Sabha Question No. 1332 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Allocation of Backhaul Spectrum
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th   JULY, 2018

## ALLOCATION OF BACKHAUL SPECTRUM

1332.  Shri SUMAN BALKA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is likely to avoid the auction route for allocating backhaul spectrum,  or  airwaves,  in  the  E  and  V  bands  to  help  enhance  mobile  phone  signal carrying  capacity  between  two  towers,  reduce  call  drops  and  improve  voice  and  data quality and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether TRAI has recommended that E band spectrum be charges at Rs. 10,000 a  year  per  slot  of  250  MHz  each  with  an  initial  promotional  discount  of  50%  for  three years from the date of allocation of the first carrier in this band and for spectrum in V band, and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) Whether  the  working  group  on  backhaul  spectrum  has  proposed  to  allot  such airwaves  through  auction  instead  of  'fixed  fee'  as  suggested  by  TRAI  and  if  so,  the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) The response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Government  has  received  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (  TRAI) recommendation  dated  29.08.2014  on ' Allocation  and  Pricing  of  Microwave  Access (MWA) and Microwave Backbone (MWB) RF Carriers' which also includes recommendations on E and V bands.

Among  others,  TRAI  has  recommended  that  E  band  and  V  band  should  be opened with 'light touch regulation' and allotment should be on a 'link to link basis'. It has  also  been  recommended  by  TRAI  that  E  band  carrier  should  be  charged  at  Rs. 10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand) per annum per carrier of 250 MHz each. More than one channel can be allocated and allowed for aggregation. There should be initial promotional discount of 50% for three years from the date of allocation of first carrier in this band.

In case of charging of V band carriers, TRAI has recommended that it should be charged Rs. 1000 (Rs. One Thousand) per annum per carrier of 50 MHz each. More than one  channel  can  be  allocated  and  allowed  for  aggregation.  There  should  be  initial promotional discount of 50% for three years from the date of allocation of first carrier in this band.

Government sought  certain  clarifications  which  were  provided  by  the  TRAI  vide their  response  dated  17 th   November,  2015.  TRAI  has  clarified  in  its  response  dated 17.11.2015, among others, that E band carrier should be charged  at Rs. 10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand) per annum per link per carrier of 2 X 250 MHz and V band should be delicensed for indoor and outdoor based access applications like WiFi hotspots etc. TRAI has  further  stated  that  for  V  band  in  backhaul  applications,  since  it  is  important  to maintain  records  in  WPC  about  details  of  location  of  antennas,  spot  frequency  uses, antenna  gain  etc.  so  as  to  avoid  any  interference  from  the  adjacent  channels,  it  may continue to be on light-licensing and at the price recommended in the recommendations dated 29 th  August, 2014.

The above recommendations of TRAI are under consideration of the Department of Telecommunications.

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