TRAI favouring CDMA on 3G spectrum:COAI

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) today said telecom regulator TRAI's recommendations on allocation of 3G spectrum were completely in favour of CDMA mobile operators and also criticised the high base price of frequency.

"On the whole, the TRAI recommendations are rather slanted in favour of CDMA and disadvantageous to GSM," T V Ramchandran, director general of COAI said.

COAI believes the route of auction and high reserve price would be very harmful for reaching the benefits of 3G in an affordable manner to the Indian citizens, he said.

The association also expressed concern over TRAI considering 3G as standalone service.

The COAI, however, welcomed TRAI's views on efficient management of spectrum and endorsed the idea of formation of National Frequency Management Board (NFMB) to coordinate the availability of spectrum.