GSM, CDMA players sing different tunes on 3G spectrum

GSM and CDMA players today voiced different opinions over the allocation of a particular frequency for third generation (3G) mobile services.

At an open house conducted by the Telecom regulatory Authority of India(Trai), CDMA players said spectrum for 3G mobile service should be on the basis of the 1900 Mhz band.

However, GSM operators, led by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), maintained that this particular frequency was for them.

Even on the pricing front, Tata, which uses CDMA technology, differed with the COAI, with Tatas favouring a one-time entry fee for 3G spectrum while the association said it should be allocated on the basis of subscriber base.

"We have collected inputs from all the stakeholders and are analysing it... We hope to send our recommendations to the Department of Telecom (DoT) by September," Trai Secretary Rajinder Singh said.

It can be recalled that DoT had asked Trai to rework on spectrum allocation procedures for 3G mobile services as Trai's earlier recommendations had not been considered by the DoT.

Trai had earlier recommended constitution of a Group of Ministers to sort out the contentious issue of spectrum taking into consideration of the views of both GSM and CDMA players.