The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has stated that its move to go ahead with spectrum auction in the 800 MHz band is a policy decision and therefore, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) should recommend reserve price for the spectrum to be auctioned in this band at the earliest.
DoT?s statement comes over the regulatory body?s letter dated December 12, 2013, in which TRAI had sought clarifications on a host of issues before it recommends a reserve price for auctioning of spectrum in the 800 MHz band. The regulatory body has been opposing DoT?s proposal to auction spectrum in the 800 MHz band to CDMA players on the grounds that CDMA technology lacks a supporting ecosystem. Instead, the regulatory body has suggested that the spectrum be auctioned to GSM operators.
The regulatory body wanted DoT to confirm if it had communicated the regulator?s views on auctioning spectrum in the 800 MHz band, and its subsequent clarifications to the Empowered Group of Ministers and the Cabinet. TRAI also asked if DoT, as per the regulator?s suggestions, carried out a feasibility study to swap the spectrum held by the defence forces between the 925 MHz band and the 935 MHz band with spectrum in the 834 MHz band and the 844 MHz band.
However, DoT has reiterated its earlier stand that the government will auction the spectrum and TRAI should recommend the reserve price expeditiously.
