DoT group to ensure efficient spectrum use

To ensure that operators effectively use the allotted spectrum, the Department of Telecom (DoT) plans to form "a dedicated group" that will keep tabs on them. It has also proposed to frame technical verification standards before allotting more spectrum.

The department will consider verifying through a dedicated group in DoT or WPC Wing the efficient utilisation of the allotted spectrum before dishing out additional spectrum beyond 10 Mhz + 10 Mhz for GSM-based services and beyond 4th CDMA carrier for CDMA-based services, sources said.

Some of the criteria proposed include the BTS density in a specified area and the distance between nearest BTSes in dense traffic areas, and the carrier deployment pattern, besides the present subscriber base criterion.

Industry experts said the spectral efficiency of Indian operators was dismal in comparison to their Chinese counterparts, being as low as one-third in some cases. Cellular operators said this was so because spectrum was rationed out in India, unlike in China where it was allotted in one go.

The department may take up the matter with Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI-- GSM representative) and Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI-- CDMA representative) and frame the technical guidelines with a group in TEO and WPC Wing.

The move is significant as the department is likely to soon issue 25 MHz spectrum to operators for rolling out third-generation (3G) services. With each operator requiring at least 5 MHz, only five will get the spectrum, and they will not be allowed to sell or share it with other operators.

Improving spectral efficiency is seen as one of the measures to overcome the spectrum crunch the operators are facing and reach the target of 250 million subscribers by 2007.