Telecom companies want 4G spectrum auction to be deferred

23 Mar 2012 Evaluate

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had floated a consultation paper 'Auction of Spectrum' early this month asking telecom companies to give in their suggestions regarding auctioning of spectrums in 1800 Mhz, 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz frequency band. While the 700 Mhz frequency band is to be used for the 4G services, the other bands are used for providing 2G services. The 2G spectrum is now available due to the squashing of licenses by the Supreme Court. TRAI is of the opinion that the existing telecom players providing service in 800 and 900 Mhz should be shifted to some other frequency band post the expiry of their telecom license.

Telecom companies however have divergent views on the issue. Most, with the exception, Bharti Airtel feels that the 4G auction should be deferred since the technology is still new and is at unaffordable levels throughout the world. Bharti Airtel however feels that it can be auctioned with the others. On the other hand, most feel that the auction process for 4G spectrum should be deferred. The telecom Minister, Kapil Sibal had stated in February that government will auction 700 Mhz spectrum band by year-end.

As far as the 2G spectrum is concerned, the opinion of the telecom providers is divided. Companies like Infotel Broadband Service (IBSL), are of the opinion that the auctioning of spectrum in 1800 Mhz frequency band should be framed up first and a separate consultation should be held for the others.

The new operators like Uninor, SSTL, Videocon, S Tel and Etisalat DB however feel that the auction should be conducted in multiple stages and in the first stage, only the new players should be allowed to participate. While Vodafone has said that the auction should be open to new entrants but it does not believe that there is any policy case to restrict the auction to new entrants.

On reserve price of the spectrum, SSTL said reserve price for per MHz of spectrum in 2012 for 1800 MHz should be the indexed 2001 price with SBI prime lending rate (PLR). Videocon has said the reserve price should be kept at Rs 1,659 crore for 6.2 MHz as discovered in the last 2G auction, while Uninor has agreed to pay the reserve price of 3G auction.

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