The row between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over the pricing of spectrum in the 800 MHz band has widened.
In a letter written to DoT on December 12, 2013, TRAI has sought clarifications on a host of issues before it recommends a reserve price for auctioning of spectrum in the 800 MHz band. TRAI 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.
However, following the Empowered Group of Minister?s (EGoM) decision to support DoT?s move to auction spectrum in the 800 MHz band to CDMA players, DoT has once again approached TRAI to suggest reserve price for the CDMA spectrum. However in its latest communication to DoT, the regulatory body has asked the former to confirm if it had communicated TRAI?s views, and its subsequent clarifications to EGoM. TRAI has 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.
Earlier, DoT had suggested that if it was to treat the spectrum in the 800 MHz band as extended GSM band (E-GSM), about 10 MHz of spectrum would be left unutilised in the 834 MHz band and 844 MHz band. Further, TRAI in its communication to DoT has asked it to mention the quantum of spectrum it plans to auction in each circle.
TRAI wants to know the rationale behind DoT?s move to auction only three blocks of spectrum in the 1.25 MHz band and in the 800 MHz band in the March 2013 auction, even though it had as much as 12.5 MHz of spectrum in certain circles. TRAI has also asked DoT to explain why the latter is seeking the reserve price for a pan India spectrum auction rather than that for 14 circles which was DoT?s initial query.
In addition, TRAI has asked DoT whether the spectrum in the 800 MHz band, which was auctioned at the half of the suggested reserve price, was liberalised or not. Further, TRAI has stated that it would start the consultation process on the reserve price of spectrum in the 800 MHz band afresh and once again seek the views of various industry stakeholders.
