Govt should not rethink refarming spectrum: RCom

Dual technology operator has also requested regulator not to consider proposed extended GSM band

In its submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its consultation on spectrum pricing and valuation, Reliance Communications (RCom) today said that the Government should not rethink on refarming of 900MHz spectrum and the regulator should ensure that legacy distortions are not exacerbated.

The dual technology operator has also requested the regulator not to consider the proposed extended GSM band taking out part spectrum from the CDMA band as it would “seriously impact” CDMA services.

The Government has already given provisions for continuity of service in the notice inviting applications (NIA) which noted ‘renewal licensees’ shall be ranked on priority for the retention of spectrum up to the ‘prescribed limits’, while determining the provisional winning bidders in each round. “No further safeguard is needed beyond clause. Perpetuity of spectrum rights cannot be guaranteed in the name of continuity of service,” RCom said in its submission.

Further, the dual technology operators noted that the existing CDMA operators have been discriminated from the beginning in terms of subscriber based norms for spectrum allocation, quantum of contracted spectrum which has resulted in decline of CDMA services in India.

“CDMA acceptance in India is already lower because choice of CDMA devices is less and prices are higher compared to GSM devices. In this background, if extended GSM (EGSM) band is culled out from the CDMA spectrum band, the CDMA services will die prematurely impairing billions of dollars of investment and services to about 75 million subscribers,” RCom pointed out.

It added that the EGSM band cannot be allocated culled out from CDMA band for use by any GSM operator. “Therefore, adoption of EGSM can only be for existing occupants of 880-890 MHz spectrum band. EGSM band proposal should not be considered as it would not only disrupt and significantly impact CDMA network operations but will also cost the operators huge investment in terms of electronics, filters,” RCom noted.