No end is sight for crossover spectrum issue

The crossover spectrum issue "" permitting CDMA operators to provide GSM services in the country "" is not showing any signs of dying down, with the GSM operator's body filing yet another petition with the Delhi High Court where the issue comes up for hearing tomorrow.

This time, the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) has accused the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of issuing the crossover spectrum "late at night and after office hours".

According to the writ petition filed with the high court, the association has termed this move as highly "unethical" and against the existing practice in the country.

The petition states that on October 18, Reliance Communications (RCom) was permitted to provide GSM services in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh circles. This is in complete violation of the established practice and procedures, and is also "illegal" as the DoT has ignored the existing priority list. This is also in violation of the policy and licensing regime existing at that time, it said.

Meanwhile, the petition also alleged that the DoT had decided to allot letters of intent (LoIs) on a short notice. The telecom department informed its member through a press release posted on its website by around 2.40 pm on Thursday, and followed it with an immediate announcement that LoIs would be issued by 3.30 pm.

This leads to the implication that operators who comply with LoI regulations would be granted the universal access service licence (UASL) first and priority would be given on basis of the date of payment.

The COAI has alleged that this is against the existing norms of the first-come-first-served basis for granting the UASL, which was practised by the government.

The body has also complained this is "highly unethical and complete violation of policy" as a total of 575 applicants had applied.

When contacted, COAI officials admitted that a petition had been filed with the DoT, even though they did not divulge its contents.

Meanwhile, in a separate move, Idea Cellular has shot off another letter to the DoT on Friday, stating no eligible application for initial GSM spectrum, subsequent to June 26, 2006, (the company's date of application) should be allocated.

This is the third letter by Idea within a span of two months. The company has sought applications for starting GSM mobile services in Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), Karnataka, Punjab, Orissa, West Bengal (including Kolkata), Assam, North East and Jammu and Kashmir.