 "TC asks TRAI about quantum of spectrum to be auctioned in 2100Mhz band")
Telecom Commission (TC), the highest policy making body of the department of telecommunications, has asked telecom regulator Trai about the quantum of spectrum to be auctioned in the 2100 MHz band in February this year.
In its meeting held on Wednesday, TC also referred back regulator’s recommendations on pricing of 2100 MHz.
The issues of quantum of spectrum to be put up for auction, roll out obligations, spectrum cap, interference free spectrum, increasing the permissible limit of 3G node amongst others have been sent back to TRAI for reconsideration, according to sources.
Though, Trai in its recommendations on reserve price for 2100 MHz band had suggested that government should auction 5+15 MHz in 2100 band next month along with other frequencies – 900, 800 and 1800 band. It had also said the government can specify a later date, when the spectrum would be available for commercial use but auction simultaneously next month.
The minister for IT and communications Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that the government intends to auction 5 MHz in 2100 band in the upcoming auction while rest 15 MHz will be done when available.
The telecom and defence ministries have in-principle agreed to the swapping arrangement for release of 15 MHz by defence forces. The talks are still on and the actual swap may take some time, which is why the government is keen on auctioning only 5MHz in the upcoming auction.
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TC accepted Trai’s recommendations that telecom service providers be permitted to realign their spectrum holdings amongst themselves with mutual agreement.
The commission also gave an in-principle approval for availing support from universal service obligation fund (USOF) for Andhra Pradesh Grid Project limited to the allocation for the state of Andhra Pradesh for implementation of NOFN project, sources said.