Trai suggests allotting 700 MHz band for NCR transport body

The telecom sector regulator has recommended that 5 MHz of 5G airwaves in the coveted 700 MHz band be assigned to National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) via the administrative route for use in regional rapid transit system (RRTS) corridors along railway tracks.

The NCRTC, a joint venture of the Centre and states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, is implementing eight RRTS corridors.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has suggested that the 700 MHz spectrum be assigned to NCRTC for 10 years instead of the 20-year allotment tenure for private carriers. The airwaves will be used for mission-critical safety applications related to signalling and train control operations.


The NCRTC will have to pay based on a formula, factoring in 50% of the price discovered of these airwaves in the 5G sale in August 2022.

“The auction determined price for 10 years allocation should be 0.5 times (or half times) the auction determined price discovered in the latest 2022 sale for 700 MHz spectrum for the respective licence service area (LSA),” the regulator said on Wednesday.

Trai added that the auction-determined price of the respective LSAs through which the RRTS/metro rail network passes should be used as a benchmark, adjusted for the corridor area relative to the total geographical area of a particular LSA on a pro-rata basis.

It has suggested that NCRTC may make full or part upfront payment of the final sum for 10 years within 10 days of declaration of assignment price. Alternately, the company may pay via 10 equal annual instalments of the total sum, protecting the NPV of the total sum at the applicable rate of interest, the regulator added.

Separately, the regulator has recommended a separate permit category for captive non-public network for Railways (CNPN-R) and called for light-touch permission/ licensing regime.

Trai has suggested that 700 MHz spectrum be also assigned to other RRTS/ metro rail networks that are geographically separated and not likely to cause interference. It has also recommended a field trial to assess feasibility of assigning 700 MHz spectrum to telcos on a non-interference basis.

It has asked DoT to supervise the trial that will be jointly conducted by the railways and telcos.