Trai starts CDMA spectrum valuation process for fresh auction

After a series of communication with the Department of Telecom, sectoral regulator Trai today invited views of interested entities on valuation of CDMA spectrum proposed to be sold through auction.
"On 12th December 2013, the DoT requested the Authority to furnish their recommendations on reserve price for 800 Mhz (CDMA) band in all service areas...In this context, Trai has issued consultation paper raising specific issues for consideration of stakeholders," Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said in a statement.
Interested entities or people can give their comments on the consultation paper by January 15 and counter comments by January 22.

The regulator will hold open house discussion on the subject on January 27 after which it will give its recommendations on minimum price that should be kept for CDMA spectrum.
This was the fourth time within the last six months that DoT approached Trai for reserve price of CDMA spectrum. The regulator in September had recommended against auction of CDMA airwaves and exploring possibility of using part of these airwaves for a GSM technology.
In the consultation paper, Trai said that DoT has proposed to auction 57.5 Mhz of CDMA spectrum but there would be additional 50 Mhz of these frequencies available if the department accepts Tata Teleservices offer to surrender additional CDMA airwaves, state run MTNL vacates entire CDMA band and BSNL retains one slot of these frequencies.

However, DoT on December 20 told TRAI that quantum of spectrum to be put for auction will be decided separately by government.