Telecom operators must apply afresh within the next 10 days for 5G spectrum trials and airwaves will be allotted upon approval of their applications, officials said, kick starting the introduction of the next generation mobile technology in the world’s fastest-growing telecom market. “5G spectrum will be allotted to telecom operators for a period of six months, which is a departure from the standard practice of one year,” an official told ET. “Telcos will have to submit fresh applications within the next 10 days.” The quantum of spectrum for the trials will depend on test-use cases filed by the telcos in their applications.Besides the 3300-3600 MHz band, which has been earmarked for 5G services, operators can use the 700 MHz and 26 GHz bands. Details of the 5G trials emerged after Department of Telecommunications secretary Anshu Prakash met telecom operators and their equipment partners on Tuesday to discuss the modalities and road map for trials. “The quantum of airwaves which will be given out was not specified in the hour-long meeting, but operators were told they could get as much as they seek, depending upon the use-cases they file,” another official privy to the details of the meeting said.The secretary is said to have told the telcos they could use any band, including 700 MHz, for trials. Telcos can also apply for bandwidth in the 26 GHz band, although the government hasn’t yet asked the regulator to set a floor price for this band, the official added. Telcos were encouraged to conduct trials in urban and rural areas as the government would like to gauge their effectiveness in both settings.The government plans to auction spectrum, including 5G airwaves, in March-April. There is no clarity yet on when the trials will start. Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday that the government would permit all operators and vendors, including Chinese telecom equipment suppliers Huawei and ZTE , to participate in the trials, ending over a year of speculation on the matter. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the economic wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , expressed disappointment at the development. “Presence of Chinese companies in our telecommunications network would compromise our national security,” the SJM wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister on Tuesday.The SJM urged the PM to bar Huawei and ZTE from participating in the 5G trials and proposed that India must encourage local companies to develop 5G and 6G technology capability. The government has said that allowing Huawei and ZTE to participate in the trails was independent whether they would be allowed to set up 5G networks in the country. “The telecom department will evaluate 5G trials for security vulnerabilities before taking a final call on the vendors who will be allowed to deploy the next generation airwaves in the country,” a person familiar with the matter told ET. This means there is still no clarity that telcos had sought in the matter to help them choose vendors, industry officials said.The second official said the trials will be scrutinised on a caseto-case basis and specific security concerns will be looked into. The US has been pressuring its allies and friendly countries, including India, to bar Huawei, flagging security concerns and citing the company’s alleged proximity to the Chinese government. China has warned India of economic consequences if Huawei was excluded from 5G development and deployment.The DoT had issued guidelines for 5G trials across all available spectrum bands in July and was prepared to allocate up to 400 MHz of airwaves for the purpose.