New Delhi – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday issued its response to a back-reference from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the allocation of spectrum for Public Mobile Radio Trunking Services (PMRTS), which support public safety, emergency services, transport, logistics and utility operations.
The DoT’s back-reference, dated 21 July 2025, requested reconsideration of certain elements of TRAI’s recommendations submitted on 20 July 2018. Those recommendations had outlined methods for spectrum allocation for PMRTS, including the option of auctions, with the aim of improving transparency and efficiency in the use of spectrum for critical communication services.
TRAI said it had reviewed the DoT’s observations before finalising its response, which is now available on the regulator’s official website.
The response addresses the validity of spectrum assignments. While TRAI’s 2018 recommendations suggested assigning spectrum for the full 20-year licence period, the regulator now proposes limiting the initial assignment to five years.
TRAI asserted that the change reflects evolving technology, including the shift from narrowband Land Mobile Radio systems to 4G and 5G broadband networks, which offer faster data transmission, improved reliability and support for mission-critical communications.
Renewals could be considered for an additional period of up to five years depending on demand and the availability of compatible network and device ecosystems. TRAI noted that while five years is recommended for PMRTS assignments, other services may have different assignment durations based on operational requirements.
The response also includes guidance on royalty payments. Operators may pay annually between Rs 1,200 and 2,400 per 6.25 kHz channel depending on link distance or make a one-time upfront payment for the licence period.
With the revised five-year spectrum validity, TRAI suggested adjusting one-time payments on a pro-rata basis. The regulator said upfront payment options could reduce administrative work and encourage timely investment in service deployment.
TRAI reaffirmed its recommendation that Spectrum Usage Charges be levied at 1 per cent of Adjusted Gross Revenue and clarified that revenue from handset sales should not be separately deducted from Applicable Gross Revenue. This aligns with recent DoT reforms to standardise the calculation of telecom revenue for regulatory purposes.
Frequency band allocation and refarming was another key focus. TRAI reiterated that PMRTS should operate in the 806-814 / 851-859 MHz bands, while broadband Public Protection and Disaster Relief (BB-PPDR) networks should be assigned 814-824 / 859-869 MHz bands.
Existing spectrum assignments should be refarmed within two years to support both PMRTS and Captive Mobile Radio Trunking Services as required.
The regulator noted that the DoT’s National Frequency Allocation Plan of 2022 had only partially implemented these recommendations. In the absence of detailed justification for deviations, TRAI has reiterated its earlier guidance to ensure a framework suitable for mission-critical communication networks.
TRAI said its recommendations are intended to support technological evolution, regulatory clarity and operational needs. Time-bound spectrum assignments and structured refarming are expected to enable adoption of advanced 4G and 5G systems while maintaining continuity for existing PMRTS operators.
