We highlighted the most important voices of Various Telecom Operators in response to the consultation paper of TRAI on Spectrum pricing. COAI mainly represented by Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellulr has clarified on the myths of Reliance Communications fearing that its entire CDMA spectrum will be re-farmed.
COAI said that,
..concern that their allocated spectrum will be forcibly withdrawn is misplaced in the proposal of E-GSM, the amount of spectrum these operators have is being ensured to them in the same band itself. The suggestion is only reconfiguration of certain frequency spots so as to free up 10 MHz of precious national resource to serve the higher demand for 900MHz spectrum, which in fact is coming from those very stakeholders who are opposing efforts to make more 900MHz available
COAI Trashes Reliance Communications without actually naming by saying
..E-GSM proposal will be a hindrance in their service, though the same amount of spectrum in the same band is being ensured to them, whereas, when it comes to the operators holding 900 MHz band, they feel that 900MHz should be refarmed and retention of 2.5 MHz of spectrum with these operators would be sufficient with no assurance of any more spectrum in the auction
COAI further points out at the oxymoron standards of Reliance Communications by saying,
the concerns submitted regarding the adverse impact on a subscriber base of 75 million CDMA subscribers, does not hold suitable conviction when compared with the overall national benefit that will impact the most substantial part of the existing subscriber base of 500 million consumers on 900 MHz band
Regarding continuity of services to the subscribers present on the 900 MHz band, these stakeholders have suggested that MNP will take care of them. However, they have completely ignored the fact that the same argument of availability of MNP will also be available to the CDMA subscribers presently being served by 800 MHz band
COAI Makes the Case Stronger for E-GSM Band
the declining numbers of CDMA users (28% year -on-year), the shrinking minutes of use (an average decline of 10% year-on-year over the past three years), the lack of interest in acquiring CDMA spectrum (nearly 70% unsold), the apparent desire by one operator to surrender spectrum and the greater interest in 900MHz, there is a strong case to reconfigure the 800MHz band plan, auction the released spectrum as EGSM
It is also important to note that auction of the E-GSM spectrum as 900 MHz band will meet the following national objectives – efficient utilization of spectrum, Ensure availability of more spectrum in the 900 MHz band to cater to increased demand and License coupled with spectrum is technology neutral, TSPs can use spectrum in both 800/900 MHz band for any technology, i.e. 2G, 3G, LTE, etc
Definitely there is a Strong Case for Creation of Eextended-GSM Band in India in the interest of the Telecommunications sector. Will the Decision Makers within Government act in the favor of Consumer and the Industry without filling their own pockets ?