Trai slashes 5G spectrum base price in 3300-3670 MHz band by around 36%

Since last year, telecom companies have carried out 5G trials in the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz bands

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has set the stage for next-gen spectrum auction by slashing the reserve price of 5G airwaves in the 3300-3670 MHz band by around 36 per cent.

It has approved setting up private networks by access providers and recommended an administrative allotment of spectrum, an idea opposed by telecom companies. These are part of the Trai recommendations, released on Monday.

Along with unsold spectrum in previous auctions, the regulator has recommended auctioning all available spectrum in new bands such as 600 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz, and 24.25-28.5 GHz.

In 2018, Trai had set Rs