By IANS
New Delhi : The department of telecommunications (DoT) Friday brought out a roadmap for allocation of additional radio frequencies for telecom operators offering the GSM technology of mobile phone services based on the telecom regulator’s recommendations.
DoT’s Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing announced that additional spectrum of up to 15 MHz would be given with subsequent increase in the number of subscribers, according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s suggestions.
It, however, also highlighted that the frequency allocation would depend on availability.
This move by WPC comes after it came under pressure from TRAI and the GSM operators for not adhering to the regulator’s recommendations.
The WPC had earlier notified the subscriber base criteria for GSM spectrum allotment for up to 7.2 MHz.
The new order, which comes into effect immediately, has directed GSM operators to increase their subscriber base to 1.5 million and 1.8 million in metros to obtain 6.2 MHz and 7.2 MHz of spectrum, respectively.
The revenue share for spectrum charges, as per orders in this regard, would apply on the AGR (adjusted gross revenue) for the complete service area, WPC said in a statement.
However, this has failed to satisfy the GSM operators, who under the aegis of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said: “It is still not in conformity with TRAI recommendations.”
“This is because the said order specifies tranches of spectrum in steps of 1 MHz and also prescribes the subscriber linkages for the same. However, the TRAI recommendations had prescribed subscriber numbers for discrete steps of 4.4, 6.2, 8.0, 10.0, 12.4 and 15.0 MHz and had not considered the effect of 1 MHz steps,” COAI said.