COAI urges government to reconsider spectrum prices

31 Jan 2013 Evaluate

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to reconsider the ‘unsustainable spectrum prices’ for the upcoming spectrum auction. In a letter to Union Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal, COAI has written that at the current prices proposed by the government for 1800 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum would allow only leading players to participate in the upcoming spectrum auction, which is scheduled to be held in March.

As per the COAI, the government has recognized that a high reserve price is the key detrimental factor when revising the reserve price for CDMA operators by 50%. Further, COAI has also stated that this time the government has freedom to slash the GSM reserve prices also which could bring more operators into the auction. Further, this move of the government will also ensure the complete deployment of all available spectrums and continuing competition in the market.

COAI said in its letter that there should be parity between the reserve price for 800MHz and 900MHz bands by slashing the reserve price for 900MHz equal to that of 800 MHz spectrum. Even TRAI has acknowledged parity between CDMA and GSM bands.

Further, it also stated that the licensees coming up for extension in November 2014 cannot be arbitrarily compelled to participate in the forthcoming auction and the government must honour and abide by the provisions for extension as contained in policy and license. Further, to maintain a level playing field and fairness in the auction, it added that this revised price should be extended to all 21 service areas and not just the circles which see no bidders.

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