Telecom companies push for 90-95% cut in base price of 5G spectrum

Telcos seek easy payment terms of 20-25 years, with 5-6 years of moratorium

The country’s three leading mobile operators have asked for a steep cut of 90-95 per cent in the base price for the 5G auction in the mid-band 3300-3670.

The regulator had earlier recommended a price of Rs 492 crore per MHZ for pan-Indian spectrum of this band. Telecom companies had complained that this was very high and would make 5G services unviable.

The telcos — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea, along with the Cellular Operators Association of India — have also said the base price for the crucial millimeter band (24.25 Ghz-28.5 Ghz) should be only 1-2 per cent