• 2 spectrum slots available for 3 operators under mandatory infrastructure sharing
• Licence fees to be paid in instalments over 10-year period
• TRCSL to auction 3,500 MHz, 27 GHz bands for 5G services
• Auction delayed for years now set for early Dec. 

The Government is expected to raise over Rs. 9 billion from the licence fees levied on the two telecommunications operators selected at the 5G auction scheduled for early December.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne stated that the Notice of Assignment (NOA) for the 5G auction had been published in early October. 

He further noted that in accordance with the timeline set out therein, the auction was scheduled to take place upon the lapse of 50 days. 

Accordingly, the Deputy Minister indicated that the 5G auction would be conducted in early December.

Weeraratne disclosed that two slots were available for the three telecom operators in the country to bid for. He further stated that the successful bidders would be subject to a mandatory requirement to share their infrastructure with other operators.

“There is a requirement for infrastructure sharing. Because of that, the two selected bidders will have to share with the other the infrastructure they have built,” he stated.

He further disclosed that the Government aimed to raise over Rs. 9 billion from the 5G licence fees payable by the two telecommunications operators selected at the auction. However, he clarified that these licence fees may be paid in instalments over a period of 10 years.

The 2022 Budget initially proposed the sale of 5G frequencies by way of auction. Accordingly, it was proposed that a fee be charged for 5G licences issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) via auction. This includes fixed phone lines, mobile connections, and internet services, as well as satellite broadcasting operations. 

Although the 5G spectrum auction was originally expected to be held during Q1 of 2022 and then subsequently postponed to 2023, such plans were pushed back by the previous regime.

On 3 October, the TRCSL published the Notice of Assignment For Auction of Radio Spectrum in 3,500 MHz and 27 GHz Bands, announcing that the radio frequency spectrum in the 3,500 MHz and 27 GHz bands were to be offered for the auction for the deployment of IMT-2020 (5G) broadband services.