TRAI releases Recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)
TRAI releases Recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released Recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through its letter No. L-14006/01/2025-IMT dated 15.05.2025, requested TRAI to provide recommendations under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended) on the applicable reserve price, band plan, block size, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, and associated conditions for auction of spectrum in the existing bands viz. 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz. DoT also sought TRAI’s recommendations on the feasibility and timing of auction of the newly identified 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz bands, as well as fresh recommendations on the auction of spectrum in the 600 MHz band. Subsequently, DoT, through its letter dated 14.08.2025, requested TRAI to recommend a possible band plan for the 67 MHz spectrum between 1427-1518 MHz considering the need to assign a continuous 24 MHz block to the Government user.
In this regard, TRAI issued a consultation paper on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) on 30.09.2025 for seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders on the issues raised in the consultation paper. Initially, the last dates for furnishing comments and counter comments were 28.10.2025 and 11.11.2025, respectively. However, considering the request of industry associations and stakeholders, the last dates for furnishing written comments and counter comments were extended to 04.11.2025 and 18.11.2025, respectively.
In response to the issues raised in the consultation paper, 19 stakeholders furnished comments, and 12 stakeholders furnished counter comments. As part of the consultation process, TRAI conducted an open house discussion (OHD) on the consultation paper through virtual mode on 12.12.2025.
Based on the comments received from stakeholders during the consultation process, and further analysis, TRAI has finalized its Recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT). Salient points of the recommendations are given below:
Spectrum Band
Block Size (MHz)
Minimum amount of spectrum that a bidder is required to bid for
Existing licensees (MHz)
New Entrants (MHz)
800 MHz
1.25 (Paired)
1.25
5,
1.25 (where less than 5 MHz is available)
900 MHz
0.20 (paired)
0.2
5,
0.2 (where less than 5 MHz is available)
1800 MHz
0.20 (paired)
0.2
5,
0.2 (where less than 5 MHz is available)
2100 MHz
5 (paired)
5
5
2300 MHz
10 (unpaired)
10
10
2500 MHz
10 (unpaired)
10
10
3300 MHz
10 (unpaired)
10
10
26 GHz
50 (unpaired)
50
100
Note: Any existing Access Service authorisation holder should be treated as a ‘New Entrant’ in the LSA(s) for the frequency bands in which it does not presently hold spectrum.
‘5% upfront payment of the bid amount within 10 calendar days from the issuance of Demand Note. The buyer should be given a moratorium period of four years (i.e. no payment is required to be made from the 2nd year to the 5th year), and the balance amount should be payable in equal annual instalments over the remaining 19 years’ period (starting from the beginning of the 6th year), payable in advance at the beginning of each year, after the period of moratorium, duly protecting the Net Present Value (NPV) of the bid amount at the applicable rate of interest.’
Reserve Price of spectrum per MHz for 20 years
Service Area
600 MHz band
800 MHz band
900 MHz band
1800 MHz band
2100 MHz band
2300 MHz band
2500 MHz band
3300 MHz band
26 GHz band
(Paired)
(Unpaired)
(In Rs. Crore)
(in Rs. lakhs)
Andhra Pradesh
233
182
217
127
90
38
38
20
43
Assam
52
47
50
28
28
9
8
4
8
Bihar
133
108
124
97
56
16
17
10
21
Delhi
441
327
327
214
192
73
74
34
71
Gujarat
196
151
151
108
94
37
32
17
38
Haryana
66
51
51
36
28
12
10
5
11
Himachal Pradesh
25
20
20
13
9
7
4
2
4
Jammu & Kashmir
14
12
13
8
5
4
2
1
1
Karnataka
185
142
166
102
81
44
33
15
31
Kerala
105
82
82
49
43
18
16
8
16
Kolkata
109
81
102
62
44
20
20
11
24
Madhya Pradesh
140
111
111
114
53
17
18
11
22
Maharashtra
259
201
201
141
101
44
39
22
48
Mumbai
292
215
215
166
118
65
58
26
58
North East
14
12
12
8
4
4
3
1
1
Orissa
65
53
59
34
24
10
9
5
9
Punjab
88
68
120
49
35
18
14
7
15
Rajasthan
125
99
155
67
56
15
16
9
20
Tamil Nadu
212
164
188
100
97
55
40
17
36
U. P. (East)
232
194
214
212
99
23
26
14
27
U.P. (West)
174
161
165
80
68
20
22
12
24
West Bengal
112
91
114
68
39
14
14
8
16
I. Payment terms for the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz spectrum bands – two options, as given below:
(i) Full or part upfront payment option, and
(ii) 20 equal annual instalments option.
II. Payment terms for the assignment of spectrum in the 600 MHz spectrum band: two options, as given below:
I. For existing bands (including for the bands being put to auction for the first time in the forthcoming auction), a fresh spectrum valuation exercise be conducted once every three years; a suitable reference be made to the Authority by Government for this purpose.
II. For auctions conducted in the interim period between periodic valuation exercises conducted once every three years,
i. for LSAs where the spectrum put to auction in a previous auction is sold, the auction determined prices (duly indexed using applicable MCLR if more than one year has elapsed since the previous auction) should be used for arriving at the reserve prices for the next auction;
ii. for LSAs, where spectrum remains unsold in previous auctions, past recommended reserve price (without indexation) should be used.
III. For new spectrum bands, to be put to auction for first time, a reference be sent to the Authority, as per established procedure as and when these bands are proposed to be put to auction.
IV. However, if required, DoT may seek fresh reserve prices from the Authority for the existing bands, providing a full and reasoned justification for the same.
The Recommendations have been placed on the TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in). For any clarification/ information Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum and Licensing), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-20907758.
- Recommendations on auction of frequency bands identified for IMT