Idea Cellular has agreed to let Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India use its spectrum in the 900 MHz band in the Delhi circle for 45 days till January 15, 2015. The sharing of Idea Cellular?s spectrum will allow some more time to the two operators to re-configure their networks in the circle to the newly allotted spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands.
The telecom operators had complained that the delayed allotment of frequency airwaves by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in the Delhi circle will lead to disruption of services during the period of transition. However, the sharing arrangement agreed to by Idea Cellular, taken in the knowledge of DoT, will now prevent any such disruptions.
The licences of Airtel and Vodafone in the Delhi circle are expiring on November 29, 2014 and therefore, the operators will vacate them and shift to the newly acquired frequencies in the 900 MHz band. Also, the two companies have acquired some spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in the circle and will use it for operations after end-November 2014.
