Spectrum sharing can wait, Trai to DoT

TELEPHONE TALK

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended voluntary sharing of infrastructure for faster rollout of network and services. However, the authority is not in favour of sharing of spectrum at this stage.

Trai's recommendations on effective sharing of passive infrastructure were sought by the department of telecommunications (DoT).

In its report, the regulator has proposed sharing of passive, active and backhaul networks to lower infrastructure and rollout costs.

Active infrastructure includes equipment such as antenna systems, cables, filters, spectrum and transmission system.

Trai said, "The exponential growth in wireless telecom services calls for massive investment in infrastructure, particularly in passive, active and backhaul components. The country would require around 33,00,000 towers by 2010 against the present number of over 1,00,000 towers."

The regulator said that apart from the "huge investments," time taken for rollouts would be a major bottleneck for achieving the target of 500 million subscribers by 2010.

"The authority does not prefer mandated passive infrastructure sharing but has required that the entire process should be transparent and non-discriminatory," it added

Considering the importance of backhaul sharing for taking mobile services to far-flung areas, it has recommended amendment in the licence conditions to allow the service providers to share the infrastructure. However, no sharing of spectrum at access network side has been recommended.

The regulator said that critical infrastructure sites should be immediately identified. It has also recommended setting up of a joint working group under the chairmanship of a district magistrate to take faster decisions.