DoT yet to decide on the roaming agreements issue

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has not yet taken a decision on the roaming agreements issue.

DoT opines that the agreements should be deemed illegal. However, it is considering legalising spectrum sharing by January 2012, thus enabling such arrangements between operators.

Spectrum sharing would allow a licensed operator to lease spectrum to a company that doesn?t have spectrum in the same area.

Meanwhile, three divisions within DoT, the Licensing Finance (LF) wing, the Wireless Planning and Coordination wing and the Access Services wing and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have recommended that the agreements be declared illegal.

Also, Kapil Sibal, Minister of Telecommunications and IT, reportedly plans to meet the operators? representatives to discuss the issue. DoT is likely to ask the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) and the Cabinet secretariat for their opinion on the issue.