Ambani writes to PM on spectrum row

Even as operators using GSM mobile technology press for a group of ministers to examine the issue of spectrum allocation, Reliance Communications (RCom) Chairman Anil Ambani has said service providers like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar have "hoarded spectrum and are trying to limit new competition".

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week, Ambani urged the government to take back excess spectrum from operators.

"Large existing GSM operators have unjustifiably taken away precious and scarce spectrum. They have got far in excess of the 6.2 MHz they were entitled to under their licences and avoided capital expenditure of an estimated Rs 20,000 crore and deprived the government of substantial revenues," he wrote.

A representative of the GSM lobby Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) declined to comment.

RCom recently became the first mobile phone operator to benefit from a recent Department of Telecom move to allow dual-technology (CDMA and GSM) on a single network.

Last week, the COAI filed a supplementary affidavit in its ongoing litigation at the telecom tribunal challenging the revised allocation norms. The tribunal is scheduled to hear the case on Monday.

Ambani said the "due process of law" had been followed by the department.

He added that GSM operators (his company also offers services based on this technology in Assam and the north-east), are "yet to furnish any scientific data to disprove the revised spectrum allocation norms".