Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices have been permitted to use GSM platform as a dual technology to offer mobile services and are being given the radio frequency in respective circles.
"In order to ensure that the additional spectrum is efficiently and properly utilised in a timely manner, the licensee (RCom and Tatas) should also be required to fulfil the contingent rollout obligation," Trai said in a letter to Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura.
The regulator said that the Unified Access Service (UAS) licences of the two operators be amended accordingly, incorporating specific mention of rollout obligations and liquidated damages for GSM services in case of failure to honour the commitment.
The two companies could not be contacted for their comments despite repeated attempts.
Trai's suggestion has come months after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allocated GSM frequency to Reliance Communications for all the circles the company had applied for, while Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd are being given start-up frequency depending upon the availability in various circles.
Besides imposing contingent rollout obligations, Trai said the DoT may also take additional performance bank guarantee from these licensees.
"Further, since a fee has been prescribed for use of alternative technology, and the clause corresponding to radio spectrum charges has been modified, the DoT may also take finance bank guarantee (FBG) from these licensees," Trai said.
The regulator has said that the above mentioned requirements were prescribed in Trai's recommendations on "review of licence terms and conditions and capping of number of access providers" last year.
The DoT, however, has not taken any decision on Trai's latest suggestion but sources said that such a move may not find favour with the government as this would make the playing field tilted towards existing GSM operators.
