The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the Government to make additional spectrum available across all commercially used bands to ensure sufficiency of supply for a successful auction. The industry body also urged the Department of Telecom to suggest reserve price for 3G spectrum.

The need of the hour is to make additional spectrum available across 900 MHz and 1800 MHz (2G) and 2100 MHz (3G), Kiran Karnik, Chairman of industry body CII's National Committee on Telecom & Broadband, said in a letter to the DoT.

“It is a widely acknowledged fact that the total spectrum available for the forthcoming auctions is grossly inadequate and if auctions are held in such circumstances, it will not be a free and fair auction…,” the letter, a copy of which was seen by BusinessLine, said. It could also lead to distorted results and raise serious concerns about the impact on fair competition and continuity of business for those operators whose licences are coming up for extension, the letter added.

The letter addressed to the Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg said that several proposals were made by various stakeholders to increase supply in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz. “These proposals deserve the serious consideration of authorities,” it added.

The industry had earlier made several representations for the need to swap three blocks of 5 MHz paired with 2100 spectrum with the Defence. The industry had also sought that spectrum, along with one existing block of 5 MHz, be available for the forthcoming spectrum auctions. “We urge the DoT that even whilst it is engaging with Defence for the swap of 2100 MHz, it should simultaneously make a reference to TRAI to recommend a reserve price for 2100 MHz spectrum,” it said.

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