'Spectrum auctions to be held this fiscal': Ravi Shankar Prasad

Amid widespre concerns over exorbitant pricing of riowaves including 5G, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Pras on Monday promised "reforms" in spectrum pricing and said that auctions will take place in current financial year. Speaking at India Mobile Congress 2019, Pras said government was aware and alive to some problems and challenges being faced by industry.

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"Spectrum auctions will be done this financial year... We are undertaking some reforms in spectrum pricing," he said.

TRAI recommendation

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) h last year recommended auction of about 8,644 MHz of telecom frequencies, including those for 5G services, at an estimated total base price of Rs 4.9 lakh crore, but financially-stressed industry that is buckling under high debt, h argued that proposed prices are unaffordable and exorbitant.

Some industry players h pointed out that aver price of 5G band auctioned in countries like South Korea, Spain, UK, and Italy comes out to be Rs. 84 crore/MHz, whereas TRAI's recommended price for same band is 5 to 6 times higher at Rs. 492 crore/MHz.

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