The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday recommended the base price of 2100-megahertz (MHz) spectrum at Rs 27.20 billion for 22 telecom zones. TRAI reiterated its recommendations that the spectrum in the 2100-MHz band should be put to auction along with the 800/900/2100 MHz band.

The DoT requested TRAI to expedite the process for its recommendations on the reserve price of 2100 MHz band and related issues so that the auction of spectrum being released by Defence could be conducted along with the auction of spectrum in the 800/900/1800 MHz bands scheduled in February 2015.

Furthermore,  the  15 MHz of  spectrum (which are equivalent to  3 blocks  of 2x5 MHz when paired corresponding downlink spectrum) in the 2100 MHz spectrum being vacated by  Ministry of  Defence,  in lieu of spectrum in the 1900 MHz spectrum, should be auctioned in view of the in-principle agreement reached with MoD, even if it is not available immediately. This is because actual assignments do not have to be made immediately. The actual date of assignment may be given in the NIA. The Authority also recommends that the DoT should take all measures to ensure that the 2100 MHz spectrum which was earlier assigned to STEL in three service areas viz. Bihar, Orissa and Himachal Pradesh is also put to auction.

The TRAI accordingly recommended that the reserve price for North East LSA may be fixed at a discount of 50%.