Date: 2025-09-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
TRAI releases Consultation Paper on ‘the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)’
On September 30, 2025, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a Consultation Paper on 'the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)'. This was posted by PIB Delhi.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requested TRAI's recommendations for the auction of radio frequency spectrum in the IMT bands per clause 11(1)(a) of the TRAI act 1997, via a letter dated May 15, 2025.
DoT's request included the following points:
* TRAI had provided recommendations on September 1, 2023, regarding the auction of RF spectrum in various bands, including 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, 26 GHz, 37-37.5 GHz, 37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5 GHz. The Government then conducted an auction of spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands during June 2024.
* The 600 MHz band was not put to auction in 2024 as it was not sold in the 2022 auction, the equipment ecosystem is not fully developed, and only a few countries have deployed 600 MHz in their public network. DoT decided to seek fresh recommendations from TRAI before auctioning this band.
* Out of the 700 MHz spectrum in the 6425-7125 MHz range, only 400 MHz is immediately available for auction in two chunks: 6425-6725 MHz (300 MHz) and 7025-7125 MHz (100 MHz). The remaining 300 MHz in the 6725-7025 MHz frequency range will be available by December 2030. The timing for the auction of 6 GHz needs to be explored given the less developed ecosystem and availability of only 400 MHz spectrum.
* 687 MHz of spectrum is to be re-farmed for IMT services.
* DoT also provided LSA-wise quantum of spectrum available with the Government in the existing and new IMT bands.
DoT requested TRAI to provide recommendations on:
* Applicable reserve price, band plan, block size, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, and associated conditions for spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, 26 GHz bands.
* Explore the possibilities of auction and timing of auction for the newly identified 6425-6725 MHz & 7025-7125 MHz bands and accordingly, provide recommendations on timing of auction.
* Re-examine and provide fresh recommendations for the auction of spectrum in the 600 MHz band.
* Provide any other recommendations for spectrum auction in these frequency bands, including regulatory/technical requirements as in the latest NFAP/Radio Regulations of the ITU.
* Recommend a possible band plan for the 67 MHz spectrum between 1427-1518 MHz considering the need to assign a continuous 24 MHz block to the Government user.
TRAI sought additional information/clarifications from DoT and DoT provided the same through a letter dated August 14, 2025. The consultation paper is available on TRAI's website (www.trai.gov.in).
Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments by October 28, 2025, and counter-comments by November 11, 2025, preferably in electronic form at advmn@trai.gov.in. For clarifications, contact Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum & Licensing), TRAI at +91-11-20907758. The Release ID is 2173224.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): Primary regulator tasked with providing recommendations for the auction of radio frequency spectrum.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): Government body requesting TRAI's recommendations for the spectrum auction, setting the scope and requirements.
TRAI Act 1997: Legal framework under which DoT requests TRAI's recommendations, specifically clause 11(1)(a).
International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT): Type of telecommunications this consultation paper focuses on the radio frequency spectrum auctions for.
Radio Frequency Spectrum: The resource that is being auctioned off, specifically spectrum in various frequency bands (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, 26 GHz, 37-37.5 GHz, 37.5-40 GHz, 42.5-43.5 GHz, 6425-6725 MHz & 7025-7125 MHz).
Ministry of Communications
TRAI releases Consultation Paper on ‘the Auction of
Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands
Identified for International Mobile
Telecommunications (IMT)’
Posted On: 30 SEP 2025 5:50PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on ‘the
Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile
Telecommunications (IMT)’.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through a letter dated 15.05.2025 sent a reference to TRAI under
the terms of clause 11(1)(a) of the TRAI act 1997 for seeking TRAI’s recommendations for the auction of
radio frequency spectrum in the frequency bands identified for International Mobile Telecommunications
(IMT). Through the reference dated 15.05.2025, DoT informed, inter-alia, as below:
a. In response to DoT's reference dated 02.08.2023 on auction of RF spectrum in the 600 MHz, 700 MHz,
800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, 26 GHz and 37-37.5
GHz, 37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5 GHz bands, TRAI had provided its recommendations on 01.09.2023.
Based on the TRAI's recommendations, the Government conducted auction of spectrum in the 800
MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands during
June 2024.
b. In the auction held in 2024, the 600 MHz band was not put to auction considering that this band was not
sold in the auction held during 2022, the equipment ecosystem has not yet fully developed for this band
and only a few countries have deployed 600 MHz in their public network. In the ITU Radio Regulations
also, this band has not been identified at the regional or global level for IMT. Therefore, DoT has
decided to seek fresh recommendations of TRAI before putting this band for auction.
c. Out of the total 700 MHz spectrum in the 6425-7125 MHz range, only 400 MHz spectrum in two
fragmented chunks at 6425-6725 MHz (300 MHz) and 7025-7125 MHz (100 MHz) are immediately
available for auction, and remaining 300 MHz in the 6725-7025 MHz frequency range will be available
by December 2030. In view of this, appropriate time for the auction of 6 GHz is required to be explored
considering the less developed ecosystem and availability of only 400 MHz spectrum in a fragmented
manner.
d. A total of 687 MHz of spectrum is to be re-farmed for IMT based services.
DoT has also provided LSA-wise quantum of spectrum available with the Government in the existing and
new IMT bands, through the reference.
Through the reference dated 15.05.2025, DoT, under the terms of clause 11(1)(a) of the TRAI act 1997,
requested TRAI to -
(a) provide recommendations on applicable reserve price, band plan, block size, quantum of
spectrum to be auctioned and associated conditions for auction of spectrum in the existing bands
viz. 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, 26 GHz
bands.
(b) explore the possibilities of auction and timing of auction for the newly identified 6425-6725
MHz & 7025-7125 MHz bands. Accordingly, provide recommendations on timing of auction,applicable reserve price, band plan, block size, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned and
associated conditions for auction of spectrum in these bands.
(c) re-examine and provide fresh recommendations for the auction of spectrum in the 600 MHz
band.
(d) provide any other recommendations deemed fit for the purpose of spectrum auction in these
frequency bands, including the regulatory/technical requirements as enunciated in the relevant
provisions of the latest NFAP/Radio Regulations of the ITU.
TRAI examined the Reference dated 15.05.2025, and through a letter dated 19.06.2025, sought certain
additional information/ clarifications from DoT. In response, DoT, through a letter dated 14.08.2025, provided
the requisite information/ clarification. Importantly, through the letter dated 14.08.2025, DoT requested TRAI
to recommend a possible band plan for the 67 MHz spectrum between 1427-1518 MHz considering the need
to assign a continuous 24 MHz block to the Government user.
In this regard, a consultation paper on ‘Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands
Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)’ has been placed on the TRAI’s website
(www.trai.gov.in) for seeking comments and counter-comments from stakeholders. Written comments on the
th
issues raised in the consultation paper are invited from stakeholders by 28 October 2025 and counter-
th
comments by 11 November 2025.
The comments/ counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form at advmn@trai.gov.in. For any
clarification/ information, Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum & Licensing), TRAI
may be contacted at telephone number +91-11-20907758.
***
Samrat/Allen
(Release ID: 2173224)