TRAI Recommends Additional Spectrum Allocation for Indian Railways’ Safety Applications

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its recommendations on the allocation of additional spectrum to Indian Railways to bolster its safety and security applications. This development comes after a request from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on behalf of Indian Railways for an additional 5 MHz of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band.

Indian Railways had earlier been assigned 5 MHz of paired spectrum in the same band for implementing critical safety and security measures, such as the Kavach system and other LTE-based communication needs. However, it was emphasized that enhanced data requirements—especially for real-time video surveillance and communication during emergencies—necessitate additional spectrum.

Key Recommendations

TRAI has endorsed the allocation of an additional 5 MHz of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band to Indian Railways. With this, the total spectrum assigned to the railways in this band will rise to 10 MHz. This decision aligns with TRAI’s emphasis on ensuring reliable, mission-critical communication across the expansive railway network of over 68,000 route kilometres.

The recommendations also underscore the need for efficient utilization of spectrum resources. TRAI has suggested that the terms of allocation include periodic monitoring to ensure timely deployment and usage. Furthermore, the DoT has been advised to recover spectrum in other bands currently held by Indian Railways—such as the 146-174 MHz and 400 MHz bands—once the LTE-based safety applications are operational.

TRAI highlighted the importance of spectrum harmonization for efficient utilization. To ensure seamless communication, it has been recommended that a contiguous block of 10 MHz spectrum be assigned to Indian Railways and an adjacent 5 MHz block be assigned to entities like the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and other metro rail networks.

Acknowledging overlapping areas between Indian Railways and metro networks, TRAI suggested conducting field trials to explore the feasibility of Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing through a Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) model. If proven effective, this model could lead to significant cost savings and optimized use of limited spectrum resources.

Implications and Future Steps

The additional spectrum allocation is expected to enhance the implementation of indigenous safety technologies like Kavach, which has already proven successful. It will also address the growing need for real-time data transfer, particularly during emergencies, when conventional telecom networks face congestion.

TRAI acknowledged that even with 10 MHz of spectrum, Indian Railways may need alternative communication methods for high-bandwidth applications such as continuous video surveillance. It has recommended the exploration of AI-based optimization to manage spectrum demands efficiently.

The recommendations follow extensive consultations with stakeholders, including a public consultation paper issued in February 2024 and an open house discussion in May 2024. Eight stakeholders submitted comments, with three providing counter-comments.

It is understood that the request for additional spectrum gained urgency after incidents like the Balasore train accident highlighted the critical need for robust communication networks for safety and emergency management.

However, with TRAI’s recommendations in place, the DoT will make the final decision on spectrum allocation. If approved, this step will mark a significant milestone in modernizing railway communication systems and enhancing passenger safety across India’s vast rail network. This development highlights TRAI’s commitment to improving safety and connectivity across India’s transportation networks through efficient spectrum management.

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