DoT accepts Trai’s formula for spectrum allocation

NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to accept telecom regulator Trai’s recommendations that both GSM and CDMA service providers increase their subscriber base two to six times (depending on the circle) before they are granted additional spectrum.

DoT has also endorsed the spectrum panel’s recommendation that GSM operators be given additional spectrum in quantities of 1 MHz, as against the current norm of granting it in tranches of 1.8 MHz to 2.2 MHz.

Sources said communications minister A Raja had cleared Trai’s both recommendations on Wednesday. The telecom department has, however, decided that the Trai recommendations will only be an interim solution.

It has set up a committee comprising representatives from its wireless co-ordination and planning arm, Trai, the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), cellphone industry, scientific community and other government agencies to draw up a new policy on spectrum allocation . The sources said the committee has been given six months to submit its report.