Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) representing GSM service providers such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular is considering approaching court to seek a stay against spectrum auctions scheduled in March 2015.
As per various media reports, COAI and its members are reviewing the Notice Inviting Application (NIA) document and examining certain perceived anomalies with their counsel to identify the future course of action. Even as the industry body weighs its legal options regarding the forthcoming auctions, it has approached the government with certain queries related to rules stipulated in the NIA.
Among several such issues, COAI has sought clarification on whether or not operators are due for a licence extension for 10 years for the spectrum held by them in 900 MHz band. The government proposes to auction spectrum in the 900 MHz band for re-farming. Earlier, the Department of Telecommunications had stated that companies who acquired spectrum 20 years ago and face licence expiry, must bid and win back the spectrum if they wish to continue providing services..
It is learnt that COAI is against government?s move to put up limited spectrum for auction, and instead wants the government to sell the the entire available spectrum. However, government on its part has decided to auction 103.75 MHz of spectrum in all service areas in the 800 MHz band, 177.8 MHz of spectrum in 900 MHz band across 17 telecom circles; 99.2 MHz of spectrum in 15 circles in the 1800 MHz band, and 85 MHz of spectrum in the 2100 MHz band (3G) spread across 17 circles. Meanwhile, telecom industry at large was hoping that the government would simultaneously auction additional 15 MHz of 3G spectrum per circle across India.
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