DoT to invite experts for drafting spectrum rules
DoT to invite experts from eminent institutes to avoid further controversy over spectrum allocation norms. Jairam Ramesh slams Sunil Mittal | Mittal's reply
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to avoid further controversy over spectrum allocation norms, the department of telecom (DoT) has decided to invite scientists and professors from eminent institutes such as Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) to be part of the new committee that has been set up to formulate fresh guidelines.
Earlier this week, the department of telecom (DoT) said that it was constituting a committee which would have industry representatives to formulate new spectrum allocation criteria norms. The committee’s mandate is to review the recent report of the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), which had proposed that tightening of existing norms by several multiple times.
GSM operators have challenged the TEC’s report in the telecom tribunal as they maintain that the entire “exercise was conducted with unseemly haste behind closed doors”. They have also alleged that “in complete disregard for all principles of transparency and natural justice, the private GSM operators who are the most affected by this exercise were kept at arms length and even the calculations were not shared with them”.
Sources said that the DoT wanted adequate representation of all players to ensure that such allegations did not surface again. However, sources also added that this new committee was unlikely to have any representation from telecom regulator TRAI.
This is despite the fact that the Trai, which is upset with department of telecom (DoT) for cherrypicking from its list of recommendations, has now demanded that the matter be referred back to it as stipulated under the TRAI Act.
TRAI sources say that the much the ongoing drama could have been averted if the DoT, as mandated by law, had referred the issue of new subscriber allocation norms back to it, rather than ask the TEC for a report.
Earlier this week, the department of telecom (DoT) said that it was constituting a committee which would have industry representatives to formulate new spectrum allocation criteria norms. The committee’s mandate is to review the recent report of the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), which had proposed that tightening of existing norms by several multiple times.
GSM operators have challenged the TEC’s report in the telecom tribunal as they maintain that the entire “exercise was conducted with unseemly haste behind closed doors”. They have also alleged that “in complete disregard for all principles of transparency and natural justice, the private GSM operators who are the most affected by this exercise were kept at arms length and even the calculations were not shared with them”.
Sources said that the DoT wanted adequate representation of all players to ensure that such allegations did not surface again. However, sources also added that this new committee was unlikely to have any representation from telecom regulator TRAI.
This is despite the fact that the Trai, which is upset with department of telecom (DoT) for cherrypicking from its list of recommendations, has now demanded that the matter be referred back to it as stipulated under the TRAI Act.
TRAI sources say that the much the ongoing drama could have been averted if the DoT, as mandated by law, had referred the issue of new subscriber allocation norms back to it, rather than ask the TEC for a report.
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