DoT asks TRAI to review spectrum mgt recommendations
22 Aug 2011
India's Department of Telecommunications (DOT) has asked Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to review its recommendations on timeframe for operators to surrender excess spectrum and the rationale behind a spectrum transfer charge in case of the merger of two entities.
TRAI's recommendations were on the basis that service providers were given contracted spectrum at a price less than the market rate.
DoT, which is the telecom licensor in the country, had sought the review in a note written to the telecom regulator TRAI.
Earlier, TRAI stated that consequent to the merger, the total spectrum held by the merged entity should not exceed 12.4 MHz for GSM oeprators and 10 MHz for CDMA operators.
The suggestions were made by TRAI on 'Spectrum Management and Licencing Framework' in May.
TRAI had separately recommended that excess spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz/5 MHz being held by the resultant entity, pursuant to the acquisition, would be liable to be charged at current market price.