The Hindu Business Line : BPL Mobile disagrees with COAI views on spectrum

New Delhi, Dec. 6 Essar Group backed BPL Mobile has become the latest GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) player who has broken away from the views of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on spectrum allocation.

BPL Mobile, which has applied for new licences in 21 circles, has said that it did not agree with COAI’s views that existing operators who have applied for new licences before December 2006 should be given priority while allocating spectrum.

Seeks fair treatment

The company said that all the existing players, irrespective of the date of application, should be treated at par.

BPL Mobile currently offers mobile services in Mumbai. Its views assume significance because the Essar Group also has a 33 per cent stake in Vodafone Essar, which has supported COAI’s stance.

However, the company has supported COAI’s other demands such as restricting 3G auction to existing players and imposing the revised subscriber allocation norms prospectively.

The panel set up by the Government to review the subscriber-based spectrum allocation norms met today but did not finalise its report. It will meet again on December 10.

Hoarding spectrum

Meanwhile, about 20 Members of Parliament have signed on a letter to the Prime Minister blaming existing GSM operators of hoarding spectrum.

“It is estimated that they have close to 60 Mhz with them (GSM operators) illegally. The Government must order a CBI enquiry to fix responsibility. The Government must take steps to get this spectrum returned immediately and given to new licensees who have been waiting in queue for almost a year now after paying requisite fees,” the letter said.

Separately the Shiv Sena has written another letter to the PM urging that the subscriber allocation norms prescribed by the Telecom Engineering Centre should be adopted by the Government for allocation of spectrum.

Shiv Sena had earlier said that the Government should conduct auctions as it was the most transparent and fair way to distribute spectrum.