Freeze sought on spectrum

DoT seeks uniform policy on spectrum first.

The wireless planning cell of the department of telecommunications (DoT) has sought a freeze on further spectrum allocation to mobile phone service providers until a policy is in place.

"It has been recommended that no further spectrum be made available to telecom operators till the issue regarding criteria and spectrum efficiency of the two technologies is resolved," said a DoT official. The wireless planning cell sent its recommendations to the DoT yesterday.

The move can restrict CDMA and GSM operators from rolling out telecom services of any kind in new towns. "If the government is serious about the move, it will put the expansion plans of all operators on hold till December, when the policy is likely to be ready," said an executive with a private telecom player.

The move comes a day after Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran proposed the setting up of a high-power group consisting of GSM and CDMA operators to settle all controversial issues, including the spectrum policy.

Besides DoT officials, this joint working group, to be chaired by Maran, will include Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd Chairman AK Sinha, Bharti Tele-Ventures Chairman Sunil Mittal, Reliance Infocomm Chairman Anil Ambani and Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata.

However, the planning commission, in its mid-term appraisal, had advocated the creation of a group of ministers (GoM) to address the tussle between GSM and CDMA operators on spectrum allocation.

This is also in line with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's recommendation in May, that a GoM be constituted to address the issue of spectrum allocation.

The minister will be in the US this month. The first meeting of the joint working group is likely to take place in October. Even if the battle for spectrum is resolved in a month, the policy can be in place only by December.