Union Cabinet Approves Major Spectrum Initiatives to Boost Telecom, Rail Safety, And Future Technologies

Union minister Anurag Thakur announced on Thursday that the cabinet has approved a large-scale spectrum auction across various bands (800 MHz to 26 GHz), aiming to significantly improve mobile telecommunication services and coverage.

According to reports, the spectrum held by certain companies undergoing insolvency is expiring in 2024 on completion of the term and this will also be put to auction. With a reserve price of Rs 96,317.65 crore, as recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the auction promises to unlock crucial resources for faster and more reliable mobile connectivity across the country.

The government had earlier assigned 5 MHz spectrum in 700 MHz for Indian Railways for the deployment of Kavach, an automatic train protection system, and provisionally assigned 5 MHz spectrum in the same band for the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

However, it has been decided that this 5 MHz spectrum will be assigned to multiple regional and urban rail-based transit systems. Considering the additional requirement for a national rollout of Kavach, an added 5 MHz in 700 MHz spectrum will be reserved for Indian Railways to improve passenger safety and operations of these transportation systems.

As per the cabinet decision, anticipating evolving technological needs, the government will establish a committee headed by the cabinet secretary. This committee will explore “refarming” spectrum usage — meaning reallocating it to different purposes based on current demands and advancements. By involving representatives from various sectors like space, broadcasting, and defence, the committee aims to optimise spectrum utilisation for future communication and technological breakthroughs.

India’s 5G rollout, the fastest globally, has already covered 740 districts with over 4.2 lakh base stations. The subscriber base exceeding 13 crore places the country as the second-largest 5G ecosystem. Witnessing a massive improvement in mobile download speeds (91 Mbps), India’s global ranking here has jumped significantly from 113 (October 2022) to 22 (December 2023).

However, building upon this momentum, the government’s initiatives aim to further strengthen the telecom infrastructure and prepare for the next generation of technologies like 6G.