The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has stated that the cabinet is likely to give its approval to the spectrum sharing and trading guidelines by end-July 2015. The Telecom Commission had finalised its views on spectrum sharing and trading within telecom service providers on June 11, 2015 and awaits cabinet approval. According to DoT, the new guidelines will consolidate spectrum and benefit both telecom operators and consumers.
Earlier in April 2014, DoT has sought clarifications from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding spectrum-sharing and trading guidelines. TRAI had reiterated its stand on most of the recommendations on spectrum-sharing and trading guidelines, while clarifying that spectrum acquired through trading can also be shared. It also stood by recommendations of allowing operators to share all spectrum while recommended allowing the trading of spectrum.
As of now, only the government is allowed to allocate spectrum to telecom firms through auctions. Once trading is allowed, it is expected to increase efficient use of spectrum by enabling telecom operators, who have a lower subscriber base or un-utilised spectrum, to trade in it.
