Govt to start spectrum allocation to new players

Setting at rest the controversy over allocation of spectrum, the government on Wednesday said it would start apportioning air waves to new entrants including Reliance Communications under the dual technology clause - a process that the appellate telecom tribunal refused to stay.

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) refused to stay the issuance of new licenses to those who had applied as of September 25. Only yesterday, the Department of Telecom had started the process.

Appearing for DoT, Solicitor General G E Vahanvati told TDSAT that the government would go ahead with the allotment of start-up spectrum to the new players. He also said that Tata
Teleservices' application for use of cross-over technology would be considered favourably.

Just before the TDSAT ruling, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that spectrum should be allocated in a transparent and equitable manner to new entrants for encouraging competitiveness.

"We are going to allot the start up spectrum... this would be maximum up to 6.2 Mhz," he said.
The move should help as many as 25 aspirants, including Unitech, Parsvnath, DLF, HFCL and Shyam Telecom, seeking to enter the lucrative GSM mobile services space.

On Cellular Operators Association of India's plea to stay the process of issuing new licenses TDSAT Chairman Arun Kumar said "This is matter of pubic policy. I would not decide, let the government decide on it."

Courtesy:thehindu.com
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