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Dual technology players Reliance Communication and Tata Teleservices may have to fulfil rollout obligation separately for CDMA and GSM spectrum.
The Department of Telecom's licensing wing has taken a view that dual technology players may have to fulfil rollout norms for the two technologies independently.
“It is difficult to deny the existence of separate rollout obligations for second technology on the licence. This is further supported by the TRAI, through letters subsequent to the acceptance of its recommendations where it has highlighted the need for rollout obligation for additional spectrum to the dual technology licensees,” said an internal DoT note.
Under current rules, dual technology players show rollout as one comprehensive network of both CDMA and GSM technologies. RCom has already shown complete rollout under its CDMA network.
In 2008, the TRAI had sent a letter to DoT that since spectrum was being given separately for both technologies, the rollout should also be applicable independently.
However, at that time, dual technology players had argued against the proposal on grounds that since both technologies were permitted under a single licence, the rollout obligation should also be applicable on their combined network.
The Telecom Commission had accepted this position and did not impose separate rollout conditions.
But now DoT is rethinking the policy and could ask the operators to show rollout separately.
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