DoT issues guidelines for temporary 5G test licences

The Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT’s) Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) division has published in an Office Memorandum (OM) guidelines for the allocation of temporary licences to promote the development of mobile technologies, in particular 5G. The document sets out three types of licences, each of which has a number of subcategories based on the intended use and featuring slightly different terms and conditions. The main types of temporary concessions are: Experimental and Technology Trial Licence; Manufacturing and Testing Licence; and Demonstration Licence. The concessions are each priced at INR5,000 (USD72.7), covering a single service area and typically valid for up to three months, although duration varies between the various categories. A demonstration licence, for example is capped at three months with no potential for extension, whilst the authorisation for manufacturing and testing lasts five years and can be renewed for another five years. The spectrum available to licensees is not limited to a specific band, and the guidelines are flexible regarding the amount of spectrum to be awarded, stating that the quantum of spectrum can be distributed as necessary and ‘as per feasibility.’