GSM operators have approached the government with a request to exchange spectrum units in the 1900 MHz band with the spectrum units in the 2100 MHz bands held by the armed forces. The move could provide operators with additional spectrum to offer 3G services using spectrum in the 2100 MHz band.
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing GSM operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, has written to Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and IT to explore a spectrum-swap deal with the armed forces to secure additional 15 units of 3G spectrum. According to COAI, the exchange of 15 units of 3G spectrum in the 2100 MHz band in lieu of the 15 units of idle spectrum in the 1900 MHz band, would free-up three additional units of 5 MHz spectrum for commercial use by GSM operators. The industry body claims that such a move would bring in additional revenue for the government without compromising the spectrum requirements of the armed forces.
Further, COAI has requested the government to re-look at its decision of setting aside 15 units of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band idle for another 10 years when the country is facing 3G spectrum crunch in the 2100 MHz band.
As per the re-farming recommendations issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ? the government has reserved spectrum in the 1900 MHz band for the CDMA operators. As part of the re-farming of the spectrum, the government would be redistributing efficient spectrum held by the CDMA operators in the 800 MHz band to spectrum in the 1900 MHz band at the time of renewal of licences of the CDMA operators.
