Tata Tele seeks spectrum level-playing field

Tata Teleservices (TTSL) today said Trai should have taken into consideration those telcos waiting for start-up spectrum rather than giving preference to those needing additional radiowaves thus overlooking its status as a dual technology licence holder.

"Trai has ignored our status as a dual-technology holder, and that TTSL should have been given precedence over those who have already received minimum start-up spectrum of 4.4 MHz and now have been recommended to get 6.2 MHz.

It is important for TTSL to get level playing field vis-a-vis other dual-technology holders who got spectrum, especially as TTSL has already been waiting for more than 30 months for the minimum start-up spectrum across various circles, including Delhi," a company spokesperson said.

Trai had given priority to those who already have initial start-up spectrum (4.4MHz) and are waiting to receive committed (6.2MHz) spectrum and those who are waiting to receive the prescribed (8MHz) followed by those who are waiting to get start-up spectrum.

The spokesperson said the company is waiting for start-up spectrum in Delhi and 39 districts including capital town of 9 circles.

"The recommendations instead of recognising our status as a dual-technology UASL-holder, has rather pushed us further behind in the queue, as it now proposes to award the spectrum first to those players who already have 4.4 MHz to 6.2 MHz and then to those who have been waiting," he said.

TTSL, which got the licence to offer the mobile telephony on dual licence (both GSM and CDMA), is yet to get spectrum for many circles, including Delhi. RCom the other dual technology provider has got spectrum in Delhi.

The firm said level playing field on spectrum should be restored by withdrawal of spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz from the incumbents, particularly when the TRAI has established that 6.2 MHz is enough to run efficient telecom services in most of the geographies.

Though it welcomed the move that there is a one time price being levied for the spectrum held free-of-cost for so long by incumbents, though this does not compensate for the advantage this hoarding has brought to them over the years.

From the level-playing-field perspective, we would have liked the 900 MHz spectrum to be ordered for harmonisation immediately.

However, we welcome the recommendation that 900 MHz spectrum will now be charged for at an extra price and returned on renewal, though what has been recommended is certainly not enough to bring it to a level-playing-field concept, especially when compared to 1800 MHz, it said.