The Hindu Business Line : COAI joining spectrum panel, with conditions

New Delhi, Nov. 13 The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Tuesday told the Government that it was joining the new panel set up by the Communications Ministry to review the 2G spectrum allocation criteria on condition that any change in existing norms should be implemented on a prospective basis.

COAI has written to the Department of Telecom that all pending applications for additional spectrum from existing GSM operators should be processed as per the current norms not withstanding the findings of the new committee.

While COAI has nominated its Director-General, Mr T.V. Ramachandran, to be its representative in the committee, the industry body representing GSM operators said that it hoped that the new panel will be examining the spectrum allocation for CDMA operators as well.

TEC report

The Communications Ministry had appointed a new committee after GSM operators criticised the norms specified by the Telecom Engineering Centre. The TEC report had asked the existing operators to rope in up to 15 times more subscribers before they could be eligible for additional spectrum. COAI has challenged this in the telecom tribunal, which has adjourned the hearing till December 12 by when the report of the new panel is expected to be finalised. The association has also said that its participation in the committee is subject to its rights and contentions in the pending proceedings before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

GSM operators have also said that since public sector operators have been allotted spectrum as per the existing criteria, existing pending applications from private operators should be processed on the same criteria.