The auction of spectrum for 5G services is likely to happen in the later half of 2019, according to Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan.
“Right now, it (5G allocation) is looking to happen in later half of next year,” a PTI report quoted her as saying.
The 5G services would offer telecom companies better visibility into market dynamics and potential revenue streams of the next-generation mobile services, Sundararajan reportedly said.
As long as monetisation avenues and opportunities are properly identified, rollout would not take long because there is no requirement for replacing hardware as it was done to upgrade from 3G to 4G services, she added.
“5G services are all software driven.. They don’t have to go and replace the hardware.. So, it can happen much faster,” she was quoted as saying.
However, before the auction, Department of Telecommunications wants to provide a one-year timeframe for trials to happen with experimental spectrum, the Secretary reportedly said.
Hence, the government intends to give experimental licenses for telcos to develop test beds to evolve a full-fledged eco-system, she added.
On the trial test bed funded by the government, Sundararajan said it was coming up at IIT Madras along with other IITs.
Ericsson’s test bed is already functional, she highlighted.
Sundararajan reportedly said the government is expected to decide on spectrum allocation for 4G services to public sector firms BSNL and MTNL within the next couple of months.
“The proposals for cabinet approval are under process. It won’t take time.. We will have our cabinet note ready at the earliest.. So within the next couple of months we expect a decision by the government,” she was quoted as saying.
It is very important to allocate 4G spectrum for BSNL and MTNL to survive, she added.