The Hindu Business Line : Spectrum row: Plan for joint working group put on hold

THE Government's plans to set to up a joint working group between global system for mobile communication (GSM) and code division multiple access (CDMA) operators to resolve their differences over spectrum have been put on hold. Earlier, the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) had announced the setting up of the working group after a meeting with the Communication and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, in August.

Senior Government officials said that the joint working group may not be required since the Department of Telecom is already drafting the spectrum policy. They said that the industry's views would be sought once the draft is finalised and the inputs will be used to formulate the final policy.

When contacted, Mr T.V. Ramachandran, Director-General, COAI, said, "We have not heard anything from the Government towards the formation of a joint working group." The association had announced in August that the working group would be set up within two weeks by the Ministry.

CDMA operators said that they were not made party to the announcement made by the COAI, and, therefore, they did not know what transpired at the meeting between the GSM operators and Mr Maran.

GSM and CDMA players are at loggerheads over spectrum allocation. Both sides claim that the existing spectrum policy is biased. While GSM operators say that they are paying a higher spectrum charge, the CDMA players say that they have less quantum of radio frequency.

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