Technoglitch
Core Member
The country's leading telecom operators such as Airtel and Idea have asked regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) not to auction the premium 700 Mhz band until enough devices are available for services that are to be provided through it.
Telenor and Tata Teleservices think otherwise.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, which is yet to launch its 4G services, has also suggested two-year evaluation of the ecosystem before radio waves in this band are auctioned.
“It will be prudent to not auction the spectrum in 700 Mhz band now. A recommended approach would be to do an ecosystem evaluation in two years’ time and plan the auctions accordingly,” Reliance Jio Infocomm said in reply to TRAI’s consultation paper on value of spectrum for the next round of spectrum auction.
As per a paper of TRAI, the cost of delivering mobile services in 700 Mhz band is approximately 70 per cent cheaper than 2100 Mhz band.
“Any immediate auction of the spectrum in 700 Mhz band will lead to underutilisation of the spectrum for several years and block industry’s fund” and therefore it should be auctioned “only after development of a strong device ecosystem, ” according to Bharti Airtel.
Reliance Communications suggested that the 700 MHz price should be calculated by indexing the last auction determined price of 800 MHz and then levying a 25 per cent premium over and above the price arrived at after indexation.
A divide among telecom operators was also seen with respect to new spectrum holding limit rule proposed by the regulator.
As per present rule, spectrum cap in a frequency band is 50 per cent of the spectrum assigned in each band in the respective service area and 25 per cent of the total spectrum assigned in all bands put together in each service area.
While Reliance Jio, RCom and Sistema Shyam Teleservices favoured TRAI proposal to consider 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz as one for the purpose of imposing spectrum holding limit, telecom major Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Aircel, Telenor and Tata Teleservices voiced against it.
Reliance Jio, Airtel oppose auction of 700 Mhz band till devices are available - The Hindu
Telenor and Tata Teleservices think otherwise.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, which is yet to launch its 4G services, has also suggested two-year evaluation of the ecosystem before radio waves in this band are auctioned.
“It will be prudent to not auction the spectrum in 700 Mhz band now. A recommended approach would be to do an ecosystem evaluation in two years’ time and plan the auctions accordingly,” Reliance Jio Infocomm said in reply to TRAI’s consultation paper on value of spectrum for the next round of spectrum auction.
As per a paper of TRAI, the cost of delivering mobile services in 700 Mhz band is approximately 70 per cent cheaper than 2100 Mhz band.
“Any immediate auction of the spectrum in 700 Mhz band will lead to underutilisation of the spectrum for several years and block industry’s fund” and therefore it should be auctioned “only after development of a strong device ecosystem, ” according to Bharti Airtel.
Reliance Communications suggested that the 700 MHz price should be calculated by indexing the last auction determined price of 800 MHz and then levying a 25 per cent premium over and above the price arrived at after indexation.
A divide among telecom operators was also seen with respect to new spectrum holding limit rule proposed by the regulator.
As per present rule, spectrum cap in a frequency band is 50 per cent of the spectrum assigned in each band in the respective service area and 25 per cent of the total spectrum assigned in all bands put together in each service area.
While Reliance Jio, RCom and Sistema Shyam Teleservices favoured TRAI proposal to consider 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz as one for the purpose of imposing spectrum holding limit, telecom major Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Aircel, Telenor and Tata Teleservices voiced against it.
Reliance Jio, Airtel oppose auction of 700 Mhz band till devices are available - The Hindu
