New Delhi: The auction that is widely awaited for the 5G spectrum may occur around April-May next year, Minister Union Ashwani Vaishnaw said on Thursday.
Overcoming the current time of the 2021 summit, the minister stated that the Indian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Trai), who saw the auction structure, was experiencing a consultation on this issue and could submit their report on February 2022.
“I think they will submit their report in February-Mid What we think, maybe February-end, maximum to maximum March.
Immediately after, we will have auction, “Communication Minister said.
However, he refrained from giving a certain timeline to auction until Trai submitted his report.
“But, today, our estimate in April-May.
I previously estimated March.
But, I think it will take …
because of complex consultations, various opinions will come …” he added.
The government is interested to ensure that neutral technology auctions, and want to provide a consistent spectrum for years to come.
“So, 4G can be used in that, 5G can be used.
So, that’s thought based on not only short term but it prefers to think at least 5-10 years ahead,” he said.
The last round of the spectrum auction, held in March this year, has swept the winner’s offer of more than RS 77,800 Crore for 855.6 MHz spectrum.
The Minister also announced that the center wanted to bring a series of further reforms for this sector.
He also noted that the regulatory structure of the telecommunications sector needs to change in the next 2-3 years.
“Indian telecommunications sector regulations must be debated with the global best, so we will come with a series of reforms in this regard, so that the global regulations benchmarks are achieved in India,” he said.
Vaishnaw said that with the main reform for Telcos described in September, the government expects the industry to focus on increasing investment of 2-4 times, reaching service quality that is not connected and increasing.
“See Drops Call …
Classic Case, Call Drops Because investment in this sector is very lacking, that investment must step up to 2-4 x.
That’s what we need,” he said.
The telecommunications sector, thus, got a shot on the arm with the government recently approved the Relief Blockbuster package which included a four-year break for the company from paying legal contributions, permission to share rare waves, changes in the revenue definition of paid levies and foreign investment percent through automatic routes.
These steps, aim to provide assistance to telecommunications service providers who have to pay thousands of crores in the contribution of the past laws that have not been provised, also include cutting the cost of using spectrum (SUC) for airwaves obtained in future spectrum auctions.
Vaishnaw emitted confidence that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have a world-class technology stack in the telecommunications sector would be realized in mid 2023.
“We all have imported technology.
Today, our entire network works on others.” So, the fundamental changes that will occur are 4G, 5G and 6G of all stacks of this technology, hardware and software, both will be developed in India, it is proven in India, then used throughout the world, “he told.
The vision has been achieved for 4G, and 70-75 percent of the work has been made for a 5G stack.
“5G stack like 70-75 percent is ready.
In February, we must have the whole stack of 5G software.
“Incentives related to production for the manufacture of telecommunications …
35 manufacturers have used it and are in the process of preparing a factory.
6G to start, that the whole process …
think, conceptualization, the task has been given, the task has been given,” he added.
(With input from PTI)