Trai may recommend more up to date frequency bands for 5G-based services

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) could come out with the pricing and quantum of more up to date spectrum bands counting millimeter wavelength (mmWave) range for the fifth-generation or 5G wireless technology rollout in case the government looks for its view, a top official told ETT.

"Government can ask for recommendations on new bands including millimeter wavelength (mmWave) band, and the telecom department can send us a reference," Trai chairman Ram Sewak Sharma said, adding that the authority was in a view of opening up of all kinds of bands for newer technology.

In August 2018, the regulator has prescribed airwaves within the 3300-3600Mhz band for the use of 5G applications and recognized that numerous other frequencies were being examined for 5G, including the mmWave spectrum within the 28 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz groups in the US. The mmWave band ranging from 30 Gigahertz (Ghz) to 300 Ghz, has seen increased footing within the US market, with top telecom carriers— AT&T and Verizon launching commercial 5G services.

The Narendra Modi-led government has already established a high-level 5G Forum under the Indo-American engineer and Stanford University professor AJ Paulraj which has already recommended newer bands to aid 5G rollout.

It has suggested mmWave band for the 5G technology and said that 140 Mhz spectrum for backhaul usage should be allowed in addition to opening up of new bands for indoor access in line with practices worldwide.

The Narendra Modi-led government has as of now set up a high-level 5G Forum under the Indo-American engineer and Stanford College professor AJ Paulraj which has as of now suggested more up to date bands to help 5G rollout. It has proposed mmWave band for the 5G technology and said that 140 Mhz spectrum for backhaul utilization ought to be permitted in addition to opening up of new bands for indoor access in line with practices worldwide.

The mmWave airwaves are being utilized for streaming high-resolution video applications and multimedia content and services indoors— and can be of utilize cases in industry verticals such as entertainment, education, and healthcare.

The committee, in August 2018, has also inquired about the government to allocate 405 Mhz of sub 4GHz spectrum instantly whereas it said that another 137 Mhz would be under consideration. Sharma added that the regulator has in spite of the fact that as of now proposed Gigahertz range that included E and V bands which were a part of mmWave frequency.

The bands— E (71-76 GHz and 81-86 Ghz) and V (57-64 GHz) are broadly utilized as backhaul, which suggests connecting the center of a telecom network to hubs and after that onto towers, to transmit data.