The Hindu Business Line : Govt may freeze fresh allocation of spectrum till policy is finalised

THE Government is considering freezing of all fresh allocation of radio frequency until the spectrum policy is finalised. The office of the wireless advisor has mooted a draft proposal to the Communication Ministry in this regard. The Government is in the process of finalising a spectrum policy for which a working group, including GSM (global system for mobile communications) and CDMA (code division multiple access) operators, has been set up to resolve all differences between the two sides.

If the proposal is agreed to, then it may have an adverse impact on the cellular operator's rollout plans. As it is, most operators are facing a crunch in accommodating more subscribers in the given radio frequency. Most of the operators, both GSM and CDMA, have already exceeded the stipulated limit of packing subscribers in the given spectrum, according to a recent report from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. TRAI has said that situation is particularly grave in the metros where some operators have stopped taking new subscribers.

According to sources within DoT, the proposal has been moved in order to lessen the intensity of the ongoing battle between GSM and CDMA operators over the quantum of spectrum being allocated to each other. While CDMA players wanted radio spectrum equal to what is being given to GSM players, the latter has opposed such a move on grounds that it will disrupt the level playing field.

DoT has set up an internal committee to chalk out the spectrum policy. The committee's first report was sent back by the Telecom Commission for a review.

DoT has also been holding meetings with the defence agencies for vacating radio frequency. The working group is expected to give its inputs to the government on all of these issues by December.

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