<p>The government will administratively allocate spectrum to telecom public sector units BSNL and MTNL for 5G and future services, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Parliament on Thursday.</p>.<p>He said that the allocation of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL will be done on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.</p>.<p>"Government also approved to administratively allot spectrum for providing 5G services to BSNL/MTNL, spectrum for maintaining current operations and future services on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services," Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.</p>.<p>5G services are yet to start in India.</p>.<p>The minister said the government has allocated funds of Rs 24,084 crore for spectrum for 4G services in 2021-22 and BSNL invited an expression of interest (EoI) on January 1 for prior registration and proof of concept (PoC) for its upcoming 4G tender.</p>.<p>He said that BSNL will manage the mobile services of MTNL in Delhi Licensed Service Area (LSA) from April 1.</p>.<p>Prasad said both the loss-making companies have become EBITDA positive for the half-year ended September 2020 and nine months ended December 2020.</p>.<p>As part of the revival package, the government also approved sovereign guarantees for bonds of Rs 15,000 crore to be raised by BSNL and MTNL for their debt restructuring.</p>.<p>"BSNL and MTNL have raised Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 6,500 crore respectively on the basis of sovereign guarantee extended by the Government," Prasad said.</p>
<p>The government will administratively allocate spectrum to telecom public sector units BSNL and MTNL for 5G and future services, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Parliament on Thursday.</p>.<p>He said that the allocation of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL will be done on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.</p>.<p>"Government also approved to administratively allot spectrum for providing 5G services to BSNL/MTNL, spectrum for maintaining current operations and future services on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services," Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.</p>.<p>5G services are yet to start in India.</p>.<p>The minister said the government has allocated funds of Rs 24,084 crore for spectrum for 4G services in 2021-22 and BSNL invited an expression of interest (EoI) on January 1 for prior registration and proof of concept (PoC) for its upcoming 4G tender.</p>.<p>He said that BSNL will manage the mobile services of MTNL in Delhi Licensed Service Area (LSA) from April 1.</p>.<p>Prasad said both the loss-making companies have become EBITDA positive for the half-year ended September 2020 and nine months ended December 2020.</p>.<p>As part of the revival package, the government also approved sovereign guarantees for bonds of Rs 15,000 crore to be raised by BSNL and MTNL for their debt restructuring.</p>.<p>"BSNL and MTNL have raised Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 6,500 crore respectively on the basis of sovereign guarantee extended by the Government," Prasad said.</p>