The National Frequency Allocation Plan 2018 (NFAP), unveiled on 25th October 2018, presents a pioneering roadmap for the Indian digital communications industry. It provided a broad roadmap for the availability and allocation of wireless spectrum to facilitate the development and deployment of next generation of wireless services in the country. The NFAP released a quantum of 605 MHz license exempt spectrum in 5GHz band for Wireless Access Services and Radio Local Area Networks in outdoor, to meet the ever-growing appetite for data (from a current figure of 50 MHz since 2007). The NFAP also offered over 30 license exempt bands for Short Range Devices (SRDs), Ultra-Wideband Devices (UWDs) and additional spectrum for M2M services, creating opportunities for the public to enjoy benefits from technologies and enabling the industry to build domestic manufacturing ecosystem. India signalled its spectrum plans for 5G services aspiring to adopt the next generation technology as a leading market. NFAP 2018 also enhanced the transparency in terms of providing consolidated and comprehensive information on all IMT bands.
| Services | Identified Bands | |
IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) | 450 – 470 MHz | 2025 – 2200 MHz |
| 470 – 610 MHz* | 2300 – 2450 MHz | |
| 610 – 960 MHz | 2500 – 2690 MHz | |
| 1427 – 1518 MHz | 3300 – 3400 MHz | |
| 1710 – 2025 MHz | 3400 – 3600 MHz | |
MSS (Maritime Mobile Service) | 4063 – 4438 kHz | 16360 – 17410 kHz |
| 6200 – 6525 kHz | 18780 – 18900 kHz | |
| 8195 – 8815 kHz | 22000 – 22855 kHz | |
| 12230 – 13200 kHz | 25070 – 25210 kHz | |
FWA (high-density applications in the fixed-satellite service:) | 19.7 – 20.2 GHz | 40.5 – 40.5 GHz |
| 28.45 – 29.10 GHz | ||
| 29.46 – 30.00 GHz | ||
* Part of the band 470-698 MHz would be made available for IMT once the current and future usage of the band 470-698 MHz by the broadcasting service is finalized.