Spectrum auction may get delayed amid Trai - DoT differences

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has been asked by the Telecom Commission to review its recommendations on the next round of spectrum auctions, due around February next year, following objections raised by a technical committee of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

The auctions could get delayed if Trai takes time to tailor its review to the government's specs.

An internal committee of the Department of Telecom had rejected the telecom regulator's recommendation that says in effect that there is no point selling spectrum when the quantum available is so small.

The committee has said that there is no visibility of when additional spectrum will be vacated by the Defence forces and, hence, there is no point in stalling the sale of what is already available.

Telecom operators, backed by Trai, argue that the auction should not be held until the Indian government can find enough spectrum to ensure continuity of telecom services.

To make fresh spectrum available for mobile services, Trai had suggested that the government should ask the defence forces to vacate spectrum in the 2,100 MHz band. In addition, it has proposed that BSNL should be asked to surrender 1.2 MHz spectrum in the 900 MHz band.

However, the DoT panel has rejected these proposals on grounds that while defence will take time to vacate spectrum, asking state-run BSNL to surrender airwaves may have legal implications.

The committee said that the proposed auction scheduled for early next year should not be linked to the availability of fresh bands.