The Hindu Business Line : Cellphone cos apply for 3G spectrum

CELLULAR operators including Bharti, Hutch and Idea Cellular have applied for 3G (third generation) spectrum to offer high-speed data and voice mobile services.

The companies, through the Cellular Operators' Association of India, have also asked the Government to reserve radio frequency specifically for offering 3G services and not allocate it to operators for lower-end services. COAI has also said that radio frequency for 3G services should not be auctioned since it would drive the costs up.

The move is the first indication that India may be moving towards the 3G regime sooner than expected. Third generation services will enhance voice capacity with subscribers being able to access high speed data like movies, videos and other broadband services. "Early introduction of 3G is desirable as this will deliver maximum benefits to mobile customers," COAI has said in its submission to the telecom regulator. Industry observers, pointed out that if the Government opens up the 3G spectrum, consumers may get to experience the services within the next one or two years.

The move assumes significance given that the telecom regulator and the Department of Telecom are in the process of finalising the spectrum policy for telecom operators. COAI's submission comes in the wake of demands by mobile operators using the Code Division Multiple Access Technology like Reliance and Tata Teleservices that radio frequency should be made available to them near to the 3G radio frequency.

COAI, which represents cell firms using GSM technology, has said that CDMA operators were demanding 5MHz spectrum for data only services while it may be noted that till date GSM operators had not been given separate spectrum for data only services.