New Telecom Policy allows spectrum sharing
10-10-2011
Later, spectrum trading may also be allowed
The Indian Government has allowed pooling and sharing of spectrum in the Draft National Telecom Policy 2011 unveiled today. The new directive will enable many operators to earn revenue from their unused spectrum.
"We will allow spectrum pooling and sharing, and later trading," said Union telecom minister Kapil Sibal. There were no details, however, on how this policy would be implemented.
While there will be no spectrum auctions this year, 300 Mhz of spectrum would be made available by 2017 and another 200 Mhz by 2020, according to Mr. Sibal
"We will ensure adequate availability of spectrum and its allocation in a transparent manner through market-related processes," he said.
Earlier, the ministry had indicated that one slot of broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum could be auctioned in the current financial year as it was available throughout the country.
The Finance Ministry, which is under immense pressure to meet the fiscal deficit target during the current financial year, has also written a letter to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to auction spectrum to earn additional revenues.
Asked whether spectrum would be auctioned this year, Sibal said, "It looks difficult this year."
Sibal also said that moving forward any allocation of spectrum would be delinked from all future licences. Till now, all licences for mobile telecom services were given bundled with start-up spectrum of 4.4 Mhz.
"We shall enact a Spectrum Act which inter-alia deals with all issues connected with wireless (spectrum) licences and their terms and conditions," the Minister said, adding that there would be a periodic audit of spectrum allocated to service providers.
The audit would ensure that spectrum, being a scarce resource, is being utilised effectively and efficiently.
The draft policy also talks about permitting spectrum pooling, sharing and later, trading for "optimal and efficient" utilisation of the frequency.
Sibal said that the ministry would be preparing a roadmap for availability of additional spectrum every five years.
A Bharti Airtel spokesperson said the proposal to provide more spectrum, allowing its sharing and allocating it through transparent market-based processes are progressive policy decisions, which will provide much needed capacity augmentation to this vital sector.
Bharti also welcomed the proposal to give infrastructure status to the telecom sector and rationalisation of taxes and levies, saying that they will provide much needed relief to the sector.
AUSPI Secretary General SC Khanna said, "We are confident that DoT will make available at affordable price optimum quantity of spectrum, rationalise levies to bring them down to those in other countries." AUSPI welcomed implementation of initiatives like abolition of roaming charges, one nation full mobile number portability, making available broadband in villages, setting up of Telecom Finance Corporation and recognition of telecom as infrastructure sector as well as merger and acquisition initiatives.
From Business Standard
The Indian Government has allowed pooling and sharing of spectrum in the Draft National Telecom Policy 2011 unveiled today. The new directive will enable many operators to earn revenue from their unused spectrum.
"We will allow spectrum pooling and sharing, and later trading," said Union telecom minister Kapil Sibal. There were no details, however, on how this policy would be implemented.
While there will be no spectrum auctions this year, 300 Mhz of spectrum would be made available by 2017 and another 200 Mhz by 2020, according to Mr. Sibal
"We will ensure adequate availability of spectrum and its allocation in a transparent manner through market-related processes," he said.
Earlier, the ministry had indicated that one slot of broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum could be auctioned in the current financial year as it was available throughout the country.
The Finance Ministry, which is under immense pressure to meet the fiscal deficit target during the current financial year, has also written a letter to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to auction spectrum to earn additional revenues.
Asked whether spectrum would be auctioned this year, Sibal said, "It looks difficult this year."
Sibal also said that moving forward any allocation of spectrum would be delinked from all future licences. Till now, all licences for mobile telecom services were given bundled with start-up spectrum of 4.4 Mhz.
"We shall enact a Spectrum Act which inter-alia deals with all issues connected with wireless (spectrum) licences and their terms and conditions," the Minister said, adding that there would be a periodic audit of spectrum allocated to service providers.
The audit would ensure that spectrum, being a scarce resource, is being utilised effectively and efficiently.
The draft policy also talks about permitting spectrum pooling, sharing and later, trading for "optimal and efficient" utilisation of the frequency.
Sibal said that the ministry would be preparing a roadmap for availability of additional spectrum every five years.
A Bharti Airtel spokesperson said the proposal to provide more spectrum, allowing its sharing and allocating it through transparent market-based processes are progressive policy decisions, which will provide much needed capacity augmentation to this vital sector.
Bharti also welcomed the proposal to give infrastructure status to the telecom sector and rationalisation of taxes and levies, saying that they will provide much needed relief to the sector.
AUSPI Secretary General SC Khanna said, "We are confident that DoT will make available at affordable price optimum quantity of spectrum, rationalise levies to bring them down to those in other countries." AUSPI welcomed implementation of initiatives like abolition of roaming charges, one nation full mobile number portability, making available broadband in villages, setting up of Telecom Finance Corporation and recognition of telecom as infrastructure sector as well as merger and acquisition initiatives.
From Business Standard
