5G SPECTRUM SALE
Spectrum reserve prices high: Telcos
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the body representing companies such as Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, expressed reservations on the government’s spectrum pricing strategy and raised fears that much of the airwaves may remain unsold, like in some of the previous rounds.
CCI urges govt to ensure adequate 5G airwaves at affordable rates for a competitive landscape
Creating a competitive 5G market, it said, is c...
DoT Explores ‘fair’ alternative to spectrum auction
DoT believes clarity on the broader spectrum allocation issue will encompass E and V band...
DoT pares telecom revenue estimate by 70% to Rs 40,000 cr
The govet expects to net around Rs 40,000 crore from telecom sector this fiscal, less than a third of the budget estimate of Rs 1.33 lakh crore, mainly due to the absence of 5G airwaves in next auctions and limited payments towards past AGR dues.
Telecom majors to push DoT to release new 5G spectrum band
The NFAP is a central policy roadmap that defines future spectrum usage by all bodies in the country, including DoT, the Department of Space and the defence ministry.
Telcos may need Rs 50,000 crore to renew expiring spectrum
The absence of a 5G sale in the forthcoming March spectrum auctions would lower the risk of financially stressed telcos burning more cash and will allay investor fears around ‘earlier-than-expected’ launch of the next-generation services, the analysts said.
Cabinet likely to consider DoT's spectrum auction proposal at Wednesday meeting
The Cabinet is expected to consider the telecom department’s proposal on the next spectrum auctions at its meeting on Wednesday, which would include a sale of only 4G airwaves and is likely to be held in March, officials familiar with the matter said.
Policy initiatives must ensure 5G availability at affordable prices: DoT Official
The views from one of the top government officials echoed the concerns of the industry, which has termed the telecom regulator’s base price for 5G spectrum in the 3300-3600 MZ band of Rs 492 crore per unit as too expensive.
Need to expedite implementation of new telecom policy, lower 5G reserve price: DoT official
The NDCP 2018 has most of the targets set to be achieved by 2022. However, several strategies that have been envisaged under the policy approved almost two years back are yet to be implemented including rationalisation of taxes, levies and spectrum price.
As India Inc works from home, the challenges of adopting 5G become glaringly obvious
Experts say the future wave of 5G use cases won’t have any meaningful impact unless India’s fragile digital infrastructure quickly sees a complete makeover and becomes comparable with that in the US, China, South Korea and Japan to support the fast broadband technology.
Will pick up some 4G spectrum in Jan-Mar auctions, not 5G at these prices: Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal
Bharti Airtel chief executive Gopal Vittal expects the next airwaves sale around January-March 2021, in which India’s No 2 telco would only look to bolster its 4G spectrum holdings, but give 5G airwaves a miss if they are auctioned as the telco feels the current reserve prices set by the sector regulator are unaffordable.
Airtel CEO Vittal calls on Govt to keep 5G spectrum prices affordable
His comments come at a time when the government plans to hold a 4G airwaves sale in early-2021, which may be followed by a sale of 5G airwaves later next year. Vittal, in fact, had recently said the Sunil Mittal-led telco would give 5G airwaves a miss if auctioned at the reserve prices set by the sector regulator, that it feels are unaffordable.
Fitch says 5G auction may be further delayed if government focuses on 4G sale next year
The global ratings agency also foresees "limited participation by Bharti and Vodafone Idea (Vi) in the 5G auction, given the high reserve prices (set by the regulator) and limited 5G use cases".
Telecom companies meet parliamentary panel, urge 5G spectrum in multiple bands
Senior DoT officials, it is learnt, told the panel that there is no ban in theory on any Chinese gear makers, stopping them from selling 5G gear, but like other companies from bordering countries, they too have to take additional approvals.
Apex panel urges space department, defence to vacate spectrum for 5G services
DoT has urged the government to release a whopping 3,000 units of premium millimeter waves in the 26-28 Ghz bands and 125 units in the 3.3-3.6 Ghz for 5G services. The airwaves are with DoS and the defence ministry.
