Return extra spectrum: CDMAs

CDMA operators "" which include Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and HFCL "" have asserted that all service providers should return any spectrum that they have received in excess of their contractual obligation.

The government is obliged to give GSM operators up to 6.2 MHz per circle and CDMA operators 5 MHz per circle as part of the licence agreement.

However, these operators have differed on the issue of distributing this extra spectrum, the radio frequencies that enable wireless communications.

The Tata group, sources say, has suggested that spectrum received beyond the contractual obligation should be auctioned, and spectrum available per operator (whether it operates GSM, CDMA or both) should be capped at 10 MHz.

It has also suggested that there should be technology neutrality and CDMA operators should be given up to 6.2 MHz of spectrum.

Government sources said Reliance Communications, the largest CDMA player, has contended that the extra spectrum of 50 MHz that would be available from GSM operators if they are asked to return the excess spectrum should be re-farmed to new applicants that receive new licences.

Anil Ambani, who represented the company, has also demanded that the subscriber-base numbers to qualify for additional spectrum should be tightened further, and annual spectrum charges should be increased to the levels recommended by the regulator.

Ambani said spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands should be re-farmed to create a level playing field between existing and new operators.

Ambani, sources said, has also asked the government to make passive infrastructure sharing mandatory amongst operators.

However, GSM operators, who have opposed the increase in the subscriber criterion, stuck to their stand that the basis on which Trai and DoT have raised the subscriber-base criterion is faulty and not based on scientific criterion.

HFCL, which operates CDMA services in Punjab, has urged the government to cap spectrum allocation to the contractual obligation and push operators to make capital expenditures for improving spectrum usage.

HFCL Chairman Mahendra Nahata said his company, which had been given 5 MHz of spectrum, had to return 2.5 Mhz after new norms were fixed. It has suggested a similar method for GSM operators.

The submissions were made by Anil Sardana, managing director of Tata Teleservices, Anil Ambani and Nahata who were asked to detail their views to the committee set up by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to examine qualifying norms for mobile operators to be eligible for additional spectrum allocation.

The GSM side was represented by Vodafone chief Arun Sarin and Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti group amongst others.

According to sources, some GSM members have suggested that a technical committee be set up which would study usage of spectrum for a year before coming to a decision on changed subscriber norms.

In the interim the suggestion is to follow the existing subscriber criterion and issue spectrum accordingly to operators.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), a technical arm of DoT, had set stiff norms in terms of minimum subscriber-bases for mobile service companies to qualify for additional spectrum.

The committee is headed by R Bandhopadhyay additional secretary, DoT and also has members from the GSM and CDMA operator lobbies. The next meeting of the committee is slated for November 30.