TRAI Recommendations: 2026 Spectrum Auction for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) | Department of Telecommunications (DoT) | National e-Governance Division
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released comprehensive recommendations for the forthcoming auction of radio frequency spectrum across nine bands identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), ranging from 600 MHz to 26 GHz. Aimed at strengthening India’s digital infrastructure, the recommendations propose the auction of the entire available spectrum—including airwaves currently held by telecom providers in insolvency—on a 20-year validity basis.
A significant reform includes a 50% reduction in net-worth requirements for new entrants (to ₹50 crore per LSA) and a unique incentive scheme allowing successful bidders to reduce their spectrum cost by up to 10% in exchange for deploying new base stations in “coverage holes”. While existing bands will follow established rollout obligations, the newly identified 6 GHz (upper) band and the 1427-1518 MHz band will be reserved or re-examined after global standardization, ensuring that India’s 5G and future 6G networks are built on a globally compatible and resilient regulatory framework.
For the everyday mobile user, 2026 Spectrum Recommendations mean a clear, lived upgrade in digital life: the 10% coverage rebate makes it financially viable for telcos to extend 4G/5G into rural and tribal black zones; mandatory spectrum harmonisation widens contiguous airwaves, translating into fewer call drops and faster data; a 50% cut in entry barriers invites new competition, keeping data prices competitive and service quality under pressure; and the inclusion of key 5G bands (3300 MHz, 26 GHz) alongside protection of the 6 GHz band accelerates 5G rollout while laying future-ready foundations for 6G, enabling low-latency apps, AR/VR, and smarter homes.
Key Pillars of the 2026 IMT Spectrum Recommendations
Auction Scope & Inclusivity: Putting the entire available spectrum in 9 bands (600 MHz to 26 GHz) to auction, while reducing entry barriers by slashing net-worth requirements for new TSPs.
Insolvency Spectrum Recovery: Recommending that DoT immediately reclaim spectrum held by providers in corporate insolvency (under IBC 2016) to ensure these idle resources are utilized for national connectivity.
Spectrum Cap & Harmonization: Maintaining a 35% spectrum cap across combined bands to prevent market concentration, with mandatory post-auction harmonization to ensure contiguous spectrum assignments within six months.
600 MHz Strategic Incentives: Offering a 4-year moratorium on payments and delayed rollout obligations for the 600 MHz band to incentivize investment in sub-1 GHz coverage.
Coverage Hole Monetisation: Launching a scheme where TSPs can offset 10% of their bid price by deploying unique 4G/5G base stations in areas with no existing network coverage.
Support for Private & M2M Networks: Setting aside a specific quantum of TDD-based spectrum (2300 MHz to 40 GHz) for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), M2M providers, and Captive Non-Public Networks (CNPNs).
What are “Coverage Holes”? Coverage holes are specific geographical areas—often in rural, remote, or tribal regions—that lack mobile network connectivity and are not currently covered under state-funded schemes like the Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly USOF). Under TRAI’s 2026 recommendations, these holes are treated as a “Technical Opportunity” for TSPs to reduce their spectrum acquisition costs. By deploying unique base station sites in these locations, TSPs can claim up to a 10% rebate on their total auction price, effectively turning a commercial liability into a national service project that ensures “Implementation Fidelity” in universal broadband access across all 31 states and UTs.
Policy Relevance
For India, these recommendations represent a transition from “Scarcity-Driven Spectrum Licensing” to “Abundance-Based Digital Saturation,” essential for the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
Sovereign Connectivity Resilience: Reclaiming spectrum from insolvent providers ensures that India’s airwaves—a “Sovereign Public Asset”—are not trapped in legal limbo but are recycled to fuel the National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0.
Bypassing the Digital Divide: The 10% cost-offset scheme for coverage holes allows TSPs to bypass the economic barriers of rural deployment, directly supporting the rural transformation goals identified in the PIB 2026 AI report.
Operationalizing 5G/6G Readiness: Reserving the 6 GHz (upper) band and aligning with WRC-27 results ensures that India’s future networks maintain “Technical Fidelity” with global standards, attracting high-tech foreign direct investment.
Market Competition Revitalization: Reducing net-worth requirements and unbundling network layers (DCIP/CTN) acts as a “Strategic Barrier Removal”, encouraging new entrants to compete against established TSPs and reduce consumer costs.
Data-Driven Policy Feedback: The OHD process involving 19 stakeholders ensures that the reserve prices (e.g., ₹233 Cr for 600 MHz in Andhra Pradesh) provide the “High-Quality Visibility” needed for predictable fiscal planning by the Ministry of Finance.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What safeguards will ensure that reclaimed spectrum from insolvent TSPs is re-auctioned quickly, rather than remaining idle due to litigation or administrative delay?
Follow the full update here: TRAI Recommendations on IMT Spectrum Auction