Spectrum

Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta oppose Indian telcos on 6 GHz band spectrum

US tech majors Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Meta, HP, and Intel Corporation have jointly opposed Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea's demand to allocate spectrum in the 6 gigahertz (GHz) band for mobile services. The tech majors sought the entire 6GHz band to be allocated for wifi services instead. In a joint response to telecom regulator Trai's consultation paper for the next round of spectrum auction, the US technology giants have said the technical and commercial readiness in the 6 GHz band is not established for mobile services. "We do not recommend setting timelines for any future auction of the 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz ranges for IMT. TRAI, together with the Department of Telecommunications, should review the allocation of the upper 6 GHz band following the outcomes of WRC-27, including Agenda Item 1.7 concerning 7.125-8.4 GHz," the joint submission said. The tech giants said any upper 6 GHz spectrum that would otherwise remain unused should be made available for unlicensed use i

DCC to seek clarification from Trai on satcom spectrum recommendations

The telecom department's highest decision-making body on Tuesday sought clarification from TRAI on certain aspects of satellite spectrum recommendations, sources said indicating that fee mooted for urban customers and the annual minimum spectrum charges suggested by the regulator could be some of the areas for the back-reference. The development assumes significance as prominent companies including billionaire Elon Musk-owned Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, and Reliance Jio-SES, are keenly eyeing the high stakes game of broadband beamed from Indian skies. The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on satcom spectrum. Sources said the multi-ministry apex decision-making body that looks at significant telecom matters, has decided to seek certain clarifications from TRAI over satcom spectrum recommendations. Areas where clarification are likely to be sought include the

Telcos slam Trai satellite spectrum charges as 'unjustifiably low'

Says proposals will create non-level playing field, impact sustainability of terrestrial services

Trai issues consultation paper on microwave spectrum across bands

The regulatory body, in a consultation paper, aims to find demand, scope of service and conditions for allocation across eight spectrum bands

Airtel board to decide on converting pending spectrum dues: Gopal Vittal

Airtel has asked the DoT for clarity on converting spectrum dues into equity under the 2021 reforms, but will wait for its board to decide on exercising the option

Airtel powers 5G service with spectrum buy from Adani Data Networks

Bought by ADN in the 2022 5G auctions, the airwaves are in the sought-after 26 GHz band

Cabinet approves refarming of 687 Mhz of spectrum, more to come: Scindia

Union cabinet has approved refarming of 687 Mhz spectrum for mobile services and more will be done based on the study by committee of secretaries put in place by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday. Speaking at an event of industry body COAI, the minister said that mobile services need 2,000 Mhz of spectrum by 2030 and the cabinet decision takes the total quantum of radiowaves to 1,587 Mhz. "Yesterday's cabinet, we have approved refarming of 687 Mhz. Which means this takes us from 900 Mhz to 1,587 Mhz. 320 (MHz) will be released immediately, some by the end of next year and some by the end of 2028-29 which makes us ready for 2030," Scindia said at Digicom Summit 2025. He further said the government will ensure that the requirement of the industry is met and there are no hurdles in the digital telecom landscape of the country. "That leaves still a gap of roughly 300 (Mhz). So the ask is not over. The second round of this, Committee of

Bharti Airtel clears all dues for 2016 spectrum, prepays Rs 3,626 crore

Airtel has cleared dues from 2012 and 2015 auctions earlier this year

Nokia to deploy 3,300 new sites for VI's 4G expansion by March 2025

Nokia said it will upgrade over 42,000 technology sites and complete more than 25,000 spectrum expansions across Vi's network

Trai to finalise satcom spectrum allocation norm suggestions by Dec 15

Telecom sector regulator Trai is likely to finalise its recommendation on proposed rules related to spectrum allocation for satellite communications by December 15, an official said on Monday. The government will evaluate recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and thereafter decide on allocating spectrum to satellite communication companies, which will pave the way for satellite-based broadband services in the country. "Trai is working to submit a recommendation on satcom spectrum assignment by December 15. There were several points raised during the open house discussion, some of which were beyond the consultation paper. Those points also need to be looked upon," an official source said on condition of anonymity. Last week Trai concluded an open house discussion on the terms and conditions for the assignment of spectrum for certain satellite-based commercial communication services. Telecom service providers like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel want ...

Jyotiraditya Scindia says no to spectrum auction pitch from Ambani, Mittal

In a boost to Elon Musk's Starlink, Communications Minister Scindia has said the spectrum for satellite broadband will be allocated and not auctioned as sought by Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal. The satellite broadband spectrum will however be not given free and sector regulator Trai will fix a price for the resource, he told PTI in a text and video interview. "Every country has to follow the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is the organisation that lays out the policy for spectrum in space or satellites, and the ITU has been very clear in terms of the spectrum being given out on an assignment basis. In addition, if you look across the world today, I cannot think of a single country that auctions spectrum for satellite," Scindia said. India is a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency for digital technology. Musk's Starlink and global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper back an administrative allocation. While ..

Why telcos fear trouble if Starlink gets spectrum at administrative prices

GSMA research reveals that only 1 per cent of India's population is unconnected or has no coverage. Domestic telcos say that is too small a market to make a business case

Starlink vs Jio: Trai extends satellite spectrum pricing debate deadline

Major satellite players like Musk's Starlink and Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Kuiper are advocating for lower spectrum prices in India

Explained: How auction differs from administrative allocation of spectrum

The government has chosen to allocate satellite communication spectrum through administrative means, rejecting the auction route supported by Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal

Elon Musk takes on Ambani over satellite spectrum allocation in India

The disagreement centres around whether satellite broadband spectrum should be auctioned or administratively allocated in India

Satellite spectrum battle: Ambani calls for auction; Musk backs allocation

While Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper are batting for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, Reliance Industries argues that auctions are necessary to ensure a fair playing field

BIF opposes Jio's demand of revising consultation paper on Satcom rules

Industry body Broadband India Forum on Tuesday opposed Reliance Jio's demand for revising the consultation paper on Satcom spectrum rules. Reliance Jio has urged telecom regulator Trai to come up with a revised paper on spectrum allocation for satellite communication, alleging that it ignores the key points of ensuring a level-playing field between satellite and terrestrial services. Without naming Reliance Jio, Broadband India Forum (BIF) said the argument for a 'level playing field' between satellite-based and terrestrial communication services is fundamentally flawed, demonstrating a profound misunderstanding of the technologies and the law. "In a desperate attempt to confuse all, stakeholders' have questioned the regulator's preference or 'tilting of preference' on the administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, advocating for auctioning such airwaves. "This seems to be a direct defiance of the Telecommunications Act passed by the highest legislative authority of the count

India delays 6 GHz spectrum allocation used for 5G and WiFi services

Tech firms and telecom companies tussle of 6 GHz spectrum allocation, while DoT worries about potential impact on Isro satellite operations

5G Spectrum auction Day 1: Govt receives bids worth Rs 11,000 crore

Five rounds of auction saw telcos focus on four spectrum bands

Submit monthly data on spam complaints, Trai tells telecom companies

"Essential details for the registration of complaints should be automatically populated if users grant permission to access their call logs and other relevant data," the regulator said