Lok Sabha Question No. 89 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Framework for Operation of 5G Network
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Gyaneshwar Patil, Nayab Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

## DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 89 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## FRAMEWORK FOR OPERATION OF 5G NETWORK

89. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL: SHRI NAYAB SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has established a framework to implement and execute the operation of 5G network in all parts of India and if so, the details thereof including the time by which the 5G network will reach all parts of India; and
- (b) whether the Government has infrastructure for the operations of 5G network under the BharatNet Scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the shortlisted areas of 5G trials?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) The  Government  has  established  a  framework  to  implement  and  execute  the  operation  of  5G network in different parts of India through rollout obligations. Salient features of the rollout obligations as provided in the Notice Inviting Application (NIA) dated 15.06.2022 for auction of 3300 MHz and 26 GHz access spectrum are as follows:

## A. Rollout obligations in respect of 3300 MHz spectrum

- (i) In Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) i.e. Telecom Circles other than Metro LSAs :

| Time Period                      | Roll Out Obligations (per LSA)                                                                                                                                                       | Minimum number of towns to be covered using targeted sites (per LSA)   |
|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Phase-1: By the end of 1 st year | Commercial launch of services in at least 1 city in the LSA                                                                                                                          | 1                                                                      |
| Phase-2: By the end of 3 rd Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed: Category A LSAs: 700 Category B LSAs: 460 Category C LSAs: 260                                                                            | In Category A LSAs: 14 In Category B LSAs: 9 In Category C LSAs: 5     |
| Phase-3: By the end of 5 th Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed (at least 5% of the sites to be in rural SDCA, including economic zones): Category A LSAs: 2000 Category B LSAs: 1400 Category C LSAs: 940 | In Category A LSAs: 40 In Category B LSAs: 28 In Category C LSAs: 19   |

| Time Period                      | Roll Out Obligations (per LSA)                             |
|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Phase-1: By the end of 1 st year | Commercial launch of services anywhere in the LSA          |
| Phase-2: By the end of 3 rd Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed in each LSA: 280 |
| Phase-3: By the end of 5 th Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed in each LSA: 920 |

## B. Rollout obligations in respect of 26 GHz spectrum

- (i) In Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) i.e. Telecom Circles other than Metro LSAs :

| Time Period                      | Roll Out Obligations (per LSA)                                                                            | Minimum number of towns to be covered using targeted sites (per LSA)   |
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Phase-1: By the end of 1 st year | Commercial launch of services anywhere in the LSA                                                         | 1                                                                      |
| Phase-2: By the end of 3 rd Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed: Category A LSAs: 240 Category B LSAs: 150 Category C LSAs: 80  | In Category A LSAs: 2 In Category B LSAs: 1 In Category C LSAs: 1      |
| Phase-3: By the end of 5 th Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed: Category A LSAs: 660 Category B LSAs: 460 Category C LSAs: 300 | In Category A LSAs: 7 In Category B LSAs: 5 In Category C LSAs: 3      |

## (ii) Metro LSAs :

| Time Period                      | Roll Out Obligations (per LSA)                             |
|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Phase-1: By the end of 1 st year | Commercial launch of services anywhere in the LSA          |
| Phase-2: By the end of 3 rd Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed in each LSA: 90  |
| Phase-3: By the end of 5 th Year | Cumulative number of sites to be deployed in each LSA: 300 |

As per the Notice Inviting Application (NIA) for auction of access spectrum and license conditions, the minimum rollout obligations are required to be met over a period of five years in a phased manner from the date of allocation of 5G spectrum. Further expansion of mobile networks beyond the mandatory rollout obligations, depends on the techno-commercial consideration of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

- (b) TSPs have been licensed to provide 5G services with their own infrastructure. However, TSPs are free to use infrastructure under Bharat Net for providing 5G services based on their techno-commercial considerations.

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