Trai seeks industry views on spectrum auction, licence cap

Telecom regulator Trai today issued a consultation paper on spectrum management and review of licence terms and conditions.

The paper seeks industry views on crucial issues such as auction of 2G radio waves and cap on the number of players in one circle.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) had sought Trai recommendations on an internal panel report on "Allocation of Access (GSM/CDMA) spectrum and pricing" of May 2009.

In addition, DoT had also asked the authority to give its proposals on the terms and conditions of existing telecom licences with respect to their duration, which is 20 years at present.

The department had further sought the regulator's clarification on auctioning of all spectrum other than 800, 900 and 1,800 MHz bands and also on the issue of capping on the number of licences in each service area.

Trai has already said it would submit the recommendations on these host of issues by November 30 and had asked the DoT to keep in abeyance any issuance of new licenses.

With rapid growth of wireless services, the demand for spectrum has tremendously increased. Consequently, spectrum management for its optimal utilisation assumes great significance and has become a critical issue in deciding the future of telecommunication in the country, Trai today said.

The issues for deliberation are spectrum, licensing, spectrum assignment and pricing.

The spectrum related issues include identification of spectrum bands for commercial usage, assessment of demand for spectrum and its availability, ensuring efficient utilisation of available spectrum and policy for reforming of spectrum.