The Hindu Business Line : CDMA operators with 4 lakh user base to get more frequency

THE Department of Telecommunication (DoT) is set to allocate additional radio frequency to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) based mobile operators only if the operators have a minimum subscriber base of four lakh in metro circles and between five lakh and seven lakh subscribers in non-metro areas.

The policy is in line with the spectrum allocation plan followed in the case of GSM (Global System for Mobile) based cellular operators who are also given fresh radio frequency upon reaching a specified user base.

CDMA-based operators are, however, not too happy with the move since the operators have not reached the prescribed subscriber limit in most circles. Reliance Infocomm would probably be the only operator to get fresh spectrum and that too, only in metro circles where it has got more than four lakh subscribers.

At present, CDMA operators are given 2.5 Mhz of radio frequency. The CDMA operators have been demanding that their share should be increased to the levels of GSM-based cellular operators, which get an average of 6.2 Mhz per circle.

As per the decision taken by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the DoT, CDMA operators will be allocated radio frequency in two phases. The first phase would be released when the operators attain a subscriber base of four lakh in metros circles, seven lakh in Circle A States, 5 lakh in Circle B States, and four lakh in Circle C States. The second chunk would be released once the operators reach a subscriber base of eight lakh in metro circle, 14 lakh in Circle A States, 10 lakh in Circle B States, and eight lakh in Circle C States.

DoT had set up a special committee under a Member (Technology) of the Telecom Commission for working out the details. The decision taken by the committee will be vetted by the full Telecom Commission.

Meanwhile, the Association of Basic Telecom Operators has shot off a note to the Chairman, Telecom Commission, that the industry was not consulted before arriving at the spectrum allocation formula. It has also said that since the telecom regulator was also looking into spectrum related issues, the move by DoT would "amount to subverting the consultation process and making any recommendations infructuous."

Tata Teleservices, the second largest CDMA operator in the country, has also written to DoT saying that the decision of the WPC was a matter of great concern.

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