DoT panel undecided on spectrum allocation to mobile operators

Some experts say unless a service provider has robust backhaul spectrum, providing 5G services can become a challenge for the company

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is divided over the allocation of backhaul airwaves to mobile operators, with half of them backing the auction route for selling microwave spectrum and the remaining half sticking to the current practice of allotment on a first-cum-first-served basis.

The latter is international practice. According to at least two persons privy to the development, an internal panel of the DoT that is working on a policy of allotting backbone airwaves has not been able to decide on the matter due to differing views of the members.

Microwave access, or MWA spectrum, is allocated to telecom operators for short