Old GSM telcos make huge gains on excess spectrum: Tata

Tata Teleservices today said old GSM operators had made huge profits by hoarding spectrum, which helped them add subscribers manifold over several years.

"We are merely seeking a level-playing field and waiting for our legitimate right to get spectrum in Delhi and 39 other locations for nearly three years now," TTSL Managing Director Anil Sardana said.

Sardana's comments came in view Vodafone's statement, saying "it is ridiculous to imply" that they (GSM operators) are holding excess spectrum.

"Such operators need to refer to and carefully read CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) and Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) documents.

"This is not just being emphasised by us, but both by CAG and Trai, both having clearly mentioned that some of the incumbents are holding excess spectrum which should be paid for, beyond the 6.2 MHz," Sardana said.

Vodafone had yesterday said there was no violation of licence condition in the allotment of additional spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz and no spectrum in excess of what was permissible has been granted to any mobile operator.

TTSL, an early entrant in the CDMA space, also defended the dual technology licence, saying the company applied only after the government policy was announced and said dual technology was open to all operators.

It regretted the fact that it is yet to get start-up GSM spectrum in Delhi (under dual tech) and several other places.

"It is because of misinformation spread by incumbent operators that TTSL has suffered all this while. These are just delaying tactics by the incumbents, who continue to add customers and keep profiting from the excess spectrum they have been hoarding for years," Sardana said.