The telecom tribunal today directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) not to issue fresh letters of intent (LoI) for spectrum allocation till December 12, the next date of hearing of a petition filed by the GSM operators' body.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) have also directed the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) - the GSM operators' body - to make operators like Reliance Communications, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), a party in the petition.
This will result in bringing the entire industry into the picture as certain operators like Reliance Communications has disassociated itself from the association. Spice Telecom is another company that had earlier dissociated itself from COAI.
The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by COAI, which challenged the DoT's decision on October 19 to permit operators use dual technology – both GSM and CDMA - and permit the subscriber-linked criteria for additional spectrum allocation.
Meanwhile, the DoT informed the tribunal that a new committee has been set up to revise the subscriber-linked criteria for additional spectrum allocation. The committee will look into allocation of spectrum in a scientific and practical manner, even though its report will not be acted upon until the next hearing.
The TDSAT also stated that COAI will participate in the new committee "without prejudice to its rights and contentions". This follows COAI's earlier request that it needed representation on the spectral efficiency committee.
On October 19, 2007, the DoT issued letters of intent (LoIs) to three companies – Reliance Communications, Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd (HFCL) and Shyam Telelink – to provide services under dual technology.
The move
Will result in CDMA operators getting GSM spectrum under their existing licenses, and in turn, out of turn, alleged COAI. The association had also sought a stay on the move. |
