Parliament Question: Allocation and auction of spectrum bands

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1452 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ALLOCATION AND AUCTION OF SPECTRUM BANDS 1452 # SHRI MADAN RATHORE: SHRI NARAYANA KORAGAPPA: SHRI BRIJ LAL: SMT. SEEMA DWIVEDI: SHRI SAT PAUL SHARMA: SHRI BABURAM NISHAD: Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state: (a) the spectrum bands auctioned or administratively allocated during the last three years; (b) the manner in which utilisation of previously assigned spectrum is being monitored; (c) whether any spectrum remains under-utilised or unsurrendered by operators; (d) the details of policy changes being considered to promote efficient spectrum use; and (e) the revenue realised by Government during this period? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) Spectrum in International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) bands auctioned or administratively assigned during the last three financial years are as detailed below: (i) Spectrum bands auctioned: S. No. Financial Year Spectrum Bands 1 2022-23 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz 2 2023-24 NIL 3 2024-25 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz (ii) Spectrum bands administratively assigned by paying auction determined price: S. No. Financial Spectrum Bands Year 1 2022-23 900 MHz 2 2023-24 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz 3 2024-25 700 MHz, 2100 MHz 1(b) to (d) Spectrum underutilization occurs due to a combination of factors such as high deployment costs, lack of compatible equipment, delay in necessary regulatory approvals, fragmented spectrum holdings or financial constraints. To prevent this resource from remaining idle, the government prescribes rollout obligations that require timely service deployment, monitors performance and compliance regularly. In addition, Department has taken several initiatives such as spectrum trading, spectrum sharing, spectrum liberalisation, and spectrum surrender to ensure the efficient utilisation of spectrum. (e) The revenue realized through spectrum in IMT bands during last three years is given below: S No. Financial Year Revenue realized (in crores) 1. 2022-23 ₹ 37,816.26 2. 2023-24 ₹ 42,617.90 3. 2024-25 ₹ 54,500.07 ***** 2