Radio spectrum is a scarce national resource, but it is critical for enabling next-generation connectivity, including 5G and beyond networks, as well as emerging applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, and machine-to-machine communications. With digital infrastructure becoming central to economic growth, spectrum allocation has to be able to meet future requirements when 6G gets standardized by 2030.
India’s spectrum allocation has evolved significantly since 1994, adopting various methodologies and culminating in the simultaneous multiple-round ascending auction mechanism in 2010. Nevertheless, legacy challenges persist, including high reserve prices, unsold spectrum, spectrum fragmentation, and limited flexibility in assigning spectrum for enterprises and non-telecom users. Technological and service advances simultaneously continue to reshape spectrum demand, introducing the possibility of spectrum co-existence across mobile access, backhaul, Wi-Fi, satellite communications, and private networks in certain bands.
