COAI's demand to invite experts in review panel untenable
The government may not allow individual members of a committee formed to review spectrum allocation norms to invite experts on board, which was a request made by GSM operators' group COAI.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The government may not allow individual members of a committee formed to review spectrum allocation norms to invite experts on board, which was a request made by GSM operators' group COAI.
"As per the constitution of the committee, the committee may co-opt or invite any expert or person who in his position would be helpful to formulate revised spectrum allocation criteria. However, individual members of the committee may not be permitted to co-opt any other member," AK Srivastava, member convener of the panel, said in a letter to COAI.
The Cellular Operators Association of India had sought permission to call upon/invite senior network and technical experts who are actually designing and running GSM networks in India to be present during the discussions.
"I believe that the deliberations of the committee will benefit greatly from the practical insights that can only be provided with an expert who is engaged in actual/practical network deployment activities," COAI Director General T V Ramachandran had said in his letter to the Chairman of the review panel.
The GSM lobby has also questioned the terms of reference of the panel, saying the committee was formed to review the subscriber base linked criteria that exists now and not the one recommended by the TEC or telecom regulator TRAI.
COAI had also mentioned in its letter that the exercise, if it has to be carried out in a scientific manner, would take at least 6-12 months as it has to be validated by data, information and details of practical network deployment. On the other hand, the CDMA operators had said that this was COAI's deliberate attempt to derail the whole process of arriving at spectrum allocation norms in a scientific manner.
The committee has also made it clear to the COAI that none other than the members of the committee shall remain present during the proceedings of the panel.
"The two associations of GSM operators and CDMA were given a chance to nominate their members in the committee and they, in their all wisdom, have nominated appropriate members in the committee. It may be noted that during the deliberations of the committee and the presentation of any group/company only the members of the committee shall be present," Srivastava said.
"As per the constitution of the committee, the committee may co-opt or invite any expert or person who in his position would be helpful to formulate revised spectrum allocation criteria. However, individual members of the committee may not be permitted to co-opt any other member," AK Srivastava, member convener of the panel, said in a letter to COAI.
The Cellular Operators Association of India had sought permission to call upon/invite senior network and technical experts who are actually designing and running GSM networks in India to be present during the discussions.
"I believe that the deliberations of the committee will benefit greatly from the practical insights that can only be provided with an expert who is engaged in actual/practical network deployment activities," COAI Director General T V Ramachandran had said in his letter to the Chairman of the review panel.
The GSM lobby has also questioned the terms of reference of the panel, saying the committee was formed to review the subscriber base linked criteria that exists now and not the one recommended by the TEC or telecom regulator TRAI.
COAI had also mentioned in its letter that the exercise, if it has to be carried out in a scientific manner, would take at least 6-12 months as it has to be validated by data, information and details of practical network deployment. On the other hand, the CDMA operators had said that this was COAI's deliberate attempt to derail the whole process of arriving at spectrum allocation norms in a scientific manner.
ADVERTISEMENT
The committee has also made it clear to the COAI that none other than the members of the committee shall remain present during the proceedings of the panel.
"The two associations of GSM operators and CDMA were given a chance to nominate their members in the committee and they, in their all wisdom, have nominated appropriate members in the committee. It may be noted that during the deliberations of the committee and the presentation of any group/company only the members of the committee shall be present," Srivastava said.
Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
