Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its recommendations on ‘Assignment of the Microwave Spectrum in 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz Bands, E-Band, and V-Band.’ The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through a reference letter dated September 13, 2024, requested TRAI to provide recommendations under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 on assignment of E & V bands; and Microwave Access (MWA) & Microwave Backbone (MWB) spectrum in existing frequency bands i.e., 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, and 21 GHz bands.
In this regard, TRAI, on 28.05.2025, issued a consultation paper on Assignment of the Microwave Spectrum in 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz Bands, E-Band, and V-Band for seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders. In response, 24 stakeholders furnished comments, and eight stakeholders furnished counter comments. An open house discussion (OHD) on the consultation paper was held on August 11, 2025 through online mode.
Based on the comments received from stakeholders during the consultation process, and further analysis, TRAI has finalised its recommendations on Assignment of the Microwave Spectrum in 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz Bands, E-Band, and V-Band.
A typical public telecommunication network consists of the following components: (a) access network; (b) core network; and (c) backhaul links. “Access network” is the last mile connectivity to customer devices. “Core network” connects the access network to global public networks such as public Internet, public land mobile network (PLMN) and public switched telephone network (PSTN). “Backhaul links” are used to connect the access network with the core network. A wide range of technologies (such as microwaves, optical fiber cable, copper cable, and satellite) are available for backhauling the telecommunication traffic. At present, about 54 per cent cellular mobile base stations are connected though microwaves.
The microwave spectrum in 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz bands, E-band, and V-band can be used in backhaul links. The 6 GHz (lower), 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz bands are collectively referred to as “traditional microwave backhaul bands”. The spectrum in E-band was opened for radio backhaul purposes in the year 2022. The spectrum in V-band is yet to be opened for the licensed use in India.
Section 4(4) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 states that the central government shall assign spectrum for telecommunication through auction except for entries listed in the First Schedule for which assignment shall be done by administrative process. The first schedule of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 lists 19 items for the assignment of spectrum through the administrative process. The item at Serial No. 12 of the first schedule is “Radio backhaul for telecommunication services”. Meaning thereby, the spectrum for radio backhaul purposes shall be assigned through the administrative process. Notably, in the explanation under the item at Serial No. 12, the term ‘radio backhaul’ has been defined as “the use of radio frequency only to interconnect telecommunication equipment, other than the customer equipment in telecommunication networks”.
While finalising the recommendations, TRAI has taken note of the following key issues in the existing policy framework for the assignment of backhaul spectrum (i.e., spectrum for radio backhaul):
- The backhaul spectrum in traditional microwave backhaul bands as well as E-band was being assigned to wireless access service providers (i.e., access service providers holding access spectrum) on a provisional basis.
- Backhaul spectrum charges applicable for wireless access service providers in traditional microwave backhaul bands followed escalating per-carrier charges. Generally, wireless access service providers had obtained microwave carriers fewer than the prescribed ceiling on the number of carriers.
- The framework for the assignment of radio backhaul spectrum to the service providers other than wireless access service providers was not particularly conducive. Only a few government agencies and a state-owned operator had obtained microwave carriers for backhauling telecommunication traffic other than wireless access network traffic.
- The present recommendations have been formulated keeping in view that the backhaul spectrum is an important enabler of telecommunication services, and therefore, a holistic framework is required to promote its optimal uptake and utilisation. To cater to the diverse requirements of different authorised entities including captive users, TRAI has recommended an enabling policy framework for the assignment of backhaul spectrum. These recommendations also comprehensively overhaul and rationalise the backhaul spectrum charging framework.
Some salient features of TRAI’s recommendations are:
- The spectrum in the 6 GHz (lower) band should be assigned on a point-to-point link basis to all types of authorised entities, including captive users, for backhaul purposes. There should be a ceiling of two carriers, each of 28 MHz (paired) bandwidth, per link in the 6 GHz (lower) band.
- The spectrum in 13 GHz, 15 GHz and 18 GHz bands should only be assigned to wireless access service providers on a block-basis in the licensed service area for backhauling their wireless access network traffic. There should be a ceiling of eight carriers, each of 28 MHz (paired) bandwidth, which may be assigned to a wireless access service provider in such bands on a block-basis in a licensed service area. TRAI has recommended a uniform ceiling of eight carriers irrespective of the licensed service area category. Under the existing policy regime, there was a ceiling of eight carriers in Metro/ Category-A licensed service areas, and a ceiling of six carriers in Category-B/ Category-C licensed service areas.
- The spectrum in the 21 GHz band should be earmarked for point-to-point link-based assignments. The spectrum in this band should be assigned to all types of authorised entities, including captive users, for backhauling telecommunication traffic other than wireless access network traffic. There should be a ceiling of four carriers, each of 28 MHz (paired) bandwidth, per link in the 21 GHz band.
- Under the existing policy regime for the assignment of backhaul spectrum on a block-basis to wireless access service providers, the spectrum charge per carrier in E-band was 0.15 per cent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR). TRAI has recommended that the spectrum charge for E-band carriers, assigned to a wireless access service provider on a block-basis for backhauling wireless access network traffic, should be 0.10 per cent of AGR for each carrier. This would result in a reduction of about 33 per cent in the spectrum charge per carrier in E-band.
- In respect of the point-to-point links to be assigned in E-band for backhauling the telecommunication traffic other than wireless access network traffic, TRAI has recommended backhaul spectrum charges as Rs 25,000 per carrier per annum for any point-to-point link in E-band. It is noteworthy that under the existing policy regime, there was no provision for the assignment of the spectrum in E-band on a point-to-point link basis to any type of entity.