GSM operators seek 2G spectrum forthwith

The GSM operators in the country are seeking allotment of 2G spectrum and a level-playing field along with state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), the GSM operators' body, has sought for an immediate allocation of 10 MHz of spectrum to its eligible members.

The move comes after Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allotted 10 MHz spectrum in all circles to BSNL, which the GSM allege is an "out-of-turn" allotment.

In a submission to the DoT, Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), has demanded allotment of spectrum to all eligible and entitled private GSM applicants.

Many of the GSM operators are been waiting in queue for spectrum for years but no allotments were made. Instead, the government has made out-of-turn spectrum allotments to BSNL. Earlier, COAI had also served a legal notice to the telecom ministry on spectrum allocation, however, it no response.

Commenting on the submission, COAI Director-General T V Ramachandran said that such preferential allotment of spectrum was " a clear violation of the contractual and legal rights of the private GSM operators".

The association also stated that the Telecom Engineering Centre's (TEC) ongoing review of the subscriber allocation criteria by was focusing only on the GSM industry. This is despite the GSM players informing the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that CDMA operators had adequate surplus capacity in their existing allotments.

COAI, in the submission also pointed out that it was necessary that separate TEC analysis has to conducted for spectrum use by CDMA operators. The analysis should apply the same assumptions, criteria, inter site distances and use of various spectrum optimisation techniques that are being applied to the GSM industry.

Ramachandran also stated that the TRAI's recommendations on subscriber allocation criteria were "erroneous and any attempt to introduce the same even as a provisional or interim measure would not only make a mockery" of the spectrum allocation process.