DoT to give 1900Mhz to CDMA players for trials

NEW DELHI: In a move that will bring cheer to CDMA operators, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has agreed to provide spectrum in the 1900 Mhz to enable them to conduct field trials. The DoT had conveyed this decision to them last week, said sources.

GSM players have constantly warned that the allocation of spectrum in the 1900 Mhz band to CDMA players will cause disturbances to their (GSM) services offered in the 2100 Mhz band. The DoT move therefore assumes significance as it gives both Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications an opportunity to prove the claims of their rivals wrong. Chinese telecom vendor ZTE will provide the equipment and handsets to conduct the trials while the logistics will be provided by CDMA players such as Tata Teleserices and Reliance Communications.

���We are sure that field trials will provide requisite data for Wireless Planning and Co-ordination Wing (WPC) of the DoT to establish that it is possible to go for mix band allocations,��� a CDMA industry source told ET. In November, 2006, CDMA operators and the industry association AUSPI had petitioned DoT seeking permission and spectrum to demonstrate the ���possibility of coexistence of services in both 1900 Mhz and 2100 Mhz���.

While CDMA operators had demanded that the field trails be conducted in the locations of Vijayawada, Hubli, Dharwad and Calicut in the 1.3 Mhz, 2.55 Mhz and 3.8 Mhz frequencies, it is not clear whether the government has agreed to these places and frequencies, sources said. CDMA operators have however informed DoT that if the allocation of these frequencies are not possible in these locations, then WPC must provide them alternate locations to conduct field trials.

The move is also in line with the telecom regulator Trai���s directions. Trai, in its recommendation on 3G did not allocate this band to CDMA operators, but said: ���The government should conduct the trial to verify the practical feasibility of coexistence of mix-band allocations, and in case the coexistence is found feasible and economically practicable, then it should work towards refarming the 1900 Mhz band... to enable future growth of 3G cellular services in India���.