Count unallocated spectrum in deciding limit: Trai to DoT

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Thursday said unallocated telecom spectrum should also be counted while determining limit of airwaves that a company can hold. Trai's observation, which comes in reply to DoT seeking its opinion, has widened spectrum holding basket for big telecom operators and specially those who are looking forward to consolidation.

"...any spectrum which was put to auction but remains unsold, spectrum which was assigned but subsequently surrendered by the TSP (telecom service provider) or taken by back by the Licensor (which is DoT) and spectrum put to auction should be counted," Trai said. The DoT had asked Trai to give its opinion on reply sought by the Supreme Court in a matter related to a telecom operator that participated in the last spectrum auction.

The regulator has reiterated spectrum cap rules that there is no need to modify the existing spectrum cap.

The spectrum cap, which is limit of airwaves a telecom operators can hold for providing wireless service, is 50 per cent in a spectrum band identified fit for providing mobile services and 25 per cent of the total such spectrum assigned in a telecom circle.

At present spectrum in frequency bands of 800 Mhz, 900 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, 2100 Mhz, 2300 Mhz and 2500 Mhz have been identified and are being used for commercial mobile services in the country.