The department of telecom (DoT), which is fighting GSM operators in the telecom tribunal TDSAT over the new telecom policy, has been slapped with a Right to Information (
RTI) notice. A counsel representing Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has sought information on issues pertaining to use of dual technology with a single licence and spectrum allocation.
Manjul Bajpai, the standing counsel of GSM industry body COAI, has also sought information on DoT and Telecom Commission's processing of Trai's recommendations on review of licence terms and conditions, and capping number of access providers. The government had last week approved use of dual technology by a single operator under the same licence and enhanced subscriber base for allocation of additional spectrum. The new norms were challenged by COAI in the telecom tribunal TDSAT on October 23.
As per the
RTI application, the law firm has sought answers to 17 queries, including how the DoT permitted use of dual technology under the same license, details on Reliance Communications (RCOM) being granted ‘in principal’ approval to offer GSM services and also information on the license fee paid by RCOM for the same.
The application also seeks that the government specify the total availability of spectrum (both GSM and CDMA), operator-wise allotment of radio frequencies, pending requests for additional and initial allotment as per the earlier policy.
With regard to the contentious issue of the spectrum allocation criteria, the
RTI application has sought that the DoT specify the basis on which the earlier guidelines dated March 2006 were issued. It has also sought details on the how the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) committee that is looking into Trai’s recommendations on spectrum allocation criteria was set up, information, records and correspondences of this committee on spectrum allocation.
The TEC is slated to submit its report on October 30. Earlier this week, GSM operators won some won some temporary relief after the Centre assured that telecom tribunal that the no spectrum would be allocated to any player under the new telecom policy until November 12, the next date for hearing. The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the COAI.
NEW DELHI
27 Oct, 2007, TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES
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