TRAI Recommends Allocation Of 700 MHz Band For NCR Transport Corporation

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday recommended administrative assignment of spectrum to National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) for separate spectrum requirements of the transport body in 700 MHz band.

The recommendations include the assignment of 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in 700 MHz band to NCRTC for use in RRTS corridors along the railway tracks. 

"The frequency spectrum to be assigned to NCRTC, shall be adjacent to the frequency spectrum assigned to Indian Railways in 700 MHz band," TRAI said.

The telecom body also suggested that the frequency spectrum assigned to NCRTC may also be assigned to other RRTS/ Metro rail networks, which are geographically separated and not likely to cause any interference to one another.

To ascertain the feasibility of assigning the same frequency spectrum (assigned to NCRTC and other RRTS/ Metro rail network) to the telecom service providers on non-interference basis, a field trial may be conducted involving the Ministry of Railways and the telecom service providers, under the supervision of DoT.

TRAI said that to ascertain feasibility of RAN sharing, a field trial of RAN sharing through MOCN may be conducted by the Ministry of Railways involving IR and NCRTC, under the supervision of DoT.

TRAI had issued a Consultation Paper on ‘Spectrum Requirements of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) for Train Control System for RRTS Corridors’ on 9 June 2022. Comments from 20 stakeholders and counter comment from one stakeholder was received for the same. Additionally, an Open House Discussion (OHD) was held on 25 August 2022 through virtual mode.

Weighing on spectrum charging mechanism and payment terms, TRAI suggested that the Auction Determined Price for 10 years allocation should be equal to 0.5 times (half times) the Auction Determined Price discovered in the latest 2022 Auction for 700 MHz spectrum band for the respective LSA.