https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

TRAI Begins Consultation on Microwave Backhaul Spectrum; Seeks Industry Input on Demand, Charges, & Rules – Comments Open Till June 25

Backhaul links form a vital part of telecom infrastructure, connecting access networks (last-mile consumer connectivity) to core networks, and thereby to global systems.
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday released a consultation paper seeking stakeholder views on the assignment of microwave spectrum across multiple bands, including 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz, as well as E and V bands.

Stakeholders have been invited to submit comments by June 25, 2025, and counter-comments by July 9, 2025.

Focus on Backhaul Spectrum for Telecom Services
The consultation paper comes in response to a September 2024 reference from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which had requested TRAI’s recommendations on the assignment of backhaul spectrum in light of the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Backhaul links form a vital part of telecom infrastructure, connecting access networks (last-mile consumer connectivity) to core networks, and thereby to global systems.

TRAI’s Scope and Key Areas of Discussion
TRAI has sought inputs on

  • Demand assessment for the V-band (57–64 GHz and 66 GHz) and E-band (71–76 GHz and 81–86 GHz)
  • Scope of use, including commercial services
  • Spectrum assignment methodology: administrative, auction-based, or hybrid
  • Spectrum charges and validity
  • Rollout obligations and spectrum caps
  • Possibility of carrier aggregation in these bands

The regulator has framed over 50 detailed questions to gather feedback from industry players, experts, and other stakeholders.

Potential IMT Usage Could Affect 7 GHz, 15 GHz Bands
TRAI also flagged that parts of the 7 GHz and 15 GHz bands are being considered for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) during the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27).

In this context, it asked whether India should review current usage of these bands now, or wait for the WRC-27 outcome before taking a decision.

Context and Background
In 2022, DoT had originally asked TRAI to suggest a mechanism for assigning spectrum in the E & V bands, and Microwave Access (MWA) and Microwave Backbone (MWB) bands. However, with the enactment of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which classifies backhaul spectrum under administrative assignment, TRAI recommended revisiting the earlier reference.

Way Forward
The feedback from this consultation is expected to shape India’s policy framework on microwave spectrum usage for backhaul – a critical requirement for expanding 5G and future telecom networks.

TRAI’s recommendations will inform the government’s decisions on administrative allocation, spectrum pricing, and licensing conditions.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Numaligarh Refinery Limited
Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) Achieves Major Engineering Feat with Installation of 375-Tonne Vacuum Tower - Details Inside
Mohan Yadav CM MP
MP: CM Mohan Yadav to Inaugurate 'Sadanira Samagam' Today; India’s First Conclave for Water Heritage Conservation
Sanjiv Chaturvedi
Whistleblower IFS Officer Flags Rs 52 Lakh/Ha Miyawaki Project in Dehradun
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
Rent Collection on Public Land? Telangana HC Issues Notice to IAS Officer Naveen Mittal Over Forgery, Land Scam Allegations
IRCTC
Manoj Kumar Sharma Selected as Director (Catering Services) of IRCTC - Know More!
Pushkar Singh Dhami
Uttarakhand: 33 IAS & 24 PCS Officers Transferred in Major Administrative Overhaul, Ashish Chauhan Made CEO of UCADA & Director of Sports
Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme
Green Hydrogen Critical to India’s Energy Future; Targets 40 Million Tonnes by 2070: Minister Shripad Naik & ReNew Chairman
GAIL PSU
IAS Kamini Chauhan Ratan Appointed as Government Nominee Director on GAIL Board, Replacing Asheesh Joshi - Know More!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s 27-Year Odyssey with Indian Railways | Exclusive Interview
Monika Singh
The Civil Servant Who Finds Peace in Poetry
Monika Singh
Monika Singh’s Life Beyond the Bureaucracy | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Ravinder Nandal IDES
IDES Ravinder Nandal's Story of Self-Made Success
Balancing fatherhood, full-time jobs, and six UPSC attempts, Ravinder Nandal’s story is one of perseverance,...
Shailendra Choudhary UPSC
Daily Routine, Optional, Essays & More | Shailendra Choudhary Breaks It Down
Shailendra Choudhary, AIR 362 in UPSC 2024, shares how focused preparation, self-made strategies, and...
Social Media
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
shubham kumar ias marriage
IAS Topper Weds BPSC Topper: Shubham Kumar Marries IRS Officer Priyangi Mehta in Patna; Wedding Video Goes Viral
Topper Couple Alert: Shubham Kumar, Priyangi Mehta’s Wedding Grabs Spotlight in Bihar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Numaligarh Refinery Limited
Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) Achieves Major Engineering Feat with Installation of 375-Tonne Vacuum Tower - Details Inside
Mohan Yadav CM MP
MP: CM Mohan Yadav to Inaugurate 'Sadanira Samagam' Today; India’s First Conclave for Water Heritage Conservation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi
Monika Singh
Monika Singh
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT