Unified licence won''t guarantee spectrum for new mobile phone companies, says DoT

Mumbai: New aspirants for mobile service licences such as DLF and Unitech may not be able to get spectrum even if they manage to bag a telecom licence, but they may be able to start fixed line services instead.

The department of telecom (DoT) is expected to take a position that a unified access service licence (UASL) need not be treated as applicable for wireless operations alone. The licence is valid for fixed line services as well, which do not need spectrum, sorces said.

DoT may take the position that companies, which already have a licence should be given the necessary frequency first while the new entrants are unlikely to get any spectrum.

The department, which is in the process of framing new guidelines to screen the applications in the wake of the spectrum crunch, has said it would not receive any applications beyond October 1.

DoT officials said the aspirants should be aware that there is a crunch for spectrum on which the existing and waiting-in players have the first right. The unified telecom licence is also not exclusively meant for mobile services, the officials said.

A pan-India mobile licence could cost between Rs1,600 and Rs1,780 crore and has to be paid upfront, but there is no assurance of spectrum availability, the officials added.