COAI wants Govt to include 3G spectrum auction in 100-day plan

The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing mobile service providers, has raised concerns over Telecom Ministry not including 2100 MHz band (3G band) under the Government's ‘First 100 Days’ Plan’.

Spectrum in the 2100 MHz spectrum band was last sold in 2010. But none of the players managed to get pan-India footprint because the there wasn’t enough spectrum for all.

Under the government’s ‘First 100 Days’ Plan’, an initiative aimed at improving investors’ confidence, Telecom Minister had decided to release a roadmap for auction of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. However, there was no mention of 2100 MHz band.

“We are concerned to note that the 2100 MHz band, which is the key for providing mobile broadband services, has apparently not been included in the spectrum auction roadmap,” COAI said in a letter to Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The problem is that a major part of the 3G band is with the Defence, which is using it sparingly. A majority of the spectrum is lying vacant and unused.

Earlier, the Department of Telecommunications had proposed a swap formula, whereby the Defence would vacate 15 MHz spectrum in the 2100 MHz in exchange for the same amount of 1900 MHz.

The Defence has not replied to this proposal yet. However, a similar swap proposal for the 1800 MHz band is being put into action.

In case, the dialogue between the DoT and Defence Ministry is “not successful”, COAI wants DoT to auction spectrum in the 2100 MHz partially.

Urging the Ministry to include this band in auction roadmap, COAI said the band has major advantages as globally it is the most harmonised band (a band that is used widely for 3G services). \

Further, it has the most developed eco-system of any band that supports mobile broadband services.

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