Spectrum policy before year-end, says Raja

The government today said it will announce the spectrum policy before the end of this year and consult telecom operators to explore the possibility of introducing a facility wherein customers can retain their mobile numbers even after changing the service provider.

"I am very optimistic that in a couple of months spectrum policy will be ready. It would definitely be before the end of the year," Communications Minister A Raja told reporters.

The policy has at least four times missed the deadline announced by the ministry due to unavailability of spectrum from armed forces. But the defence ministry is expected to release some spectrum in the next couple of months.

Raja said the Department of Telecom was aware of the spectrum crunch for existing mobile operators for normal voice services (2G) but the ministry needs at least 35 Mhz of radio waves from defence forces to release it among operators.

On number portability that will allow mobile users to retain their numbers while switching to another operator, he said: "It is being considered. The recommendation given by TRAI is being considered." Raja said telecom regulator TRAI's earlier recommendation was not rejected, but was kept in abeyance.

Meanwhile, government today said it would refer to TRAI the issue of recent tariff hike by mobile operators and would take a decision only after knowing the regulator's opinion.