Spectrum sharing & trading norms by year-end

The government would finalise guidelines for spectrum-sharing and trading by the end of this year, information technology and communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Saturday, adding norms for the next phase of spectrum auctions would also be formulated by that time.

“We have received recommendations of Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and we are working on those…Our objective will be to protect consumer interests, keeping growth in mind,” he said.

In July, Trai had recommended sharing of all categories of spectrum held by operators, including those allocated at the old price of Rs 1,658 crore or assigned without auction. The regulator had also suggested all spectrum in the 800/900/1,800/2,100/2,300/2,500 MHz bands be shared, provided both licensees had spectrum in the same band.

For wireless telecom services, mobile operators have currently been allocated radiowave frequencies in the 800 MHz (CDMA); 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz (GSM 2G/3G); 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz (4G) bands. Operators are allowed to share passive infrastructure such as mobile towers, which has helped them cut operational costs. Active infrastructure such as spectrum, however, cannot be isn’t allowed to be shared.

This financial year, the government has budgeted about Rs 9,300 crore from the auction of GSM and CDMA spectrum. For 2014-15, it has set a total revenue target of Rs 45,471 crore from communication services, including proceeds from the three sets of spectrum and related charges.

The government also plans to set up a national cyber coordination centre. “We will invest Rs 800 crore for this project; we’ll have inter-ministerial discussions soon, before sending the proposal to the Cabinet,” Prasad said. It is expected the proposal will be sent to the Cabinet within the next 15 days.

To ensure the security of all e-governance initiatives, an e-governance security centre will also be set up, at an investment of Rs 270 crore.. Prasad also said the government will be roadshows in Germany this week to seek foreign investments in manufacturing segment.