DoT writes to PMO on CDMA spectrum sale issue

25 Oct 2013 Evaluate

In clear sign of dispute, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has written to the PMO, rejecting to telecom regulator TRAI's recommendations for having an Extended GSM (EGSM) band in the 800MHz spectrum already used by CDMA operators, on the grounds of its unfeasibility. The former, after examining TRAI’s recommendations and as per initial findings, found the recommendation to adopt EGSM in the available CDMA band for providing telecom services, as "technically unfeasible", which would not allow any fresh sale for CDMA players.

Meanwhile, TRAI's recommendations against a fresh auction in the 800 MHz has already drawn flak from Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL), a key CDMA player that offers services under the MTS brand and wants to further expand beyond the nine circles it currently operates. As per the company, TRAI’s recommendation is clearly unfair and discriminatory and goes against the spirit of providing a level-playing field. The company has consistently maintained that it does not agree with the recommendations of TRAI specific to the 800 MHz spectrum band.

Further, DoT’s secretary has also informed PMO that it had requested TRAI to recommend a reserve price for auction of spectrum in the 800 MHz band, especially after SSTL indicated that the reserve price in the previous sale (in March) was 'unreasonably high' when compared to the new reserve price, and that the later clearly refused to make any fresh recommendation on this.

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