TRAI recommends additional 5 MHz spectrum in the 700 MHz band for Indian Railways

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday recommended that in addition to the already assigned 5 MHz (paired) frequency spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band, an additional 5 MHz (paired) spectrum of the same band should be assigned to Indian Railways for its safety and security applications along the railway tracks for captive use.

The development comes after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through its letter dated July 26, 2023, informed TRAI that the Indian Railways has sought an additional 5 MHz of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band, free of cost, for enhancing its safety and security systems.

Through the said letter, DoT requested TRAI to examine and provide its recommendations on the assignment of 5 MHz of additional spectrum to Indian Railways in view of its earlier recommendations.

Field trial

“DoT should take an early decision on the Authority’s earlier recommendation that to ascertain feasibility of radio access network (RAN) sharing, a field trial of RAN sharing through multi-operator core network (MOCN) may be conducted by the Ministry of Railways involving Indian Railways and National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), under the supervision of DoT,” TRAI said in the recommendations.

Based on the outcome of the field trial, a decision on the implementation of RAN sharing through MOCN in the overlapping areas among Indian Railways/ NCRTC/ other RRTS/ Metro rail networks can be taken, it said.

Spectrum harmonisation

It further said that spectrum harmonisation (uniform allocation of radio frequency band) should be carried out to assign a contiguous block of 10 MHz of frequency spectrum in the 700 MHz band to Indian Railways and an adjacent 5 MHz block to NCRTC/ other RRTS/ Metro rail networks.

“At the same time, it should be ensured that minimum disturbance occurs to the running networks. Spectrum charges for Indian Railways /NCRTC/ other RRTS/ Metro rail networks should be levied based on the formula for Royalty Charges and License Fees for captive use, as prescribed by DoT,” TRAI added.