Spectrum Administration for Mobile Services in India: Need for a Regime Change

India’s spectrum management policies have transitioned from administrative allocation of spectrum to market-based assignment methods through auction, technological neutrality of licenses, and stronger ownership rights. Yet, the mobile service market in India has experienced financial distress, exit of operators, and growing concentration. 5G technologies will require wider access to spectrum resources, capital investment, and business innovation. This article examines how regulatory policies for availability and pricing of spectrum have impacted India’s mobile markets. Based on a comparative analysis of international spectrum policy trends, it concludes that India’s spectrum regime would require essential policy changes to meet the requirements of 5G.