SME Times News Bureau | 22 Nov, 2017
The Trai on Tuesday
recommended lifting the ceiling on spectrum held by mobile operators within a
particular band and a 50 per cent limit on combined radiowave holding in
efficient bands like 700 MHz, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz.
The Telecome Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) also suggested that the
overall ceiling on holding spectrum should be raised by 10 per cent to 35 per
cent.
"The current intra-band cap should be removed. Instead, there should be a
cap of 50 per cent on the combined spectrum holding in the sub-1 GHz
bands," Trai said in a statement here.
In making their recommendations, Trai said that the overall 25 per cent ceiling
on spectrum had been imposed at a time when there were around 6 to 10 telecom
operators in a given circle.
The number of telecom operators in a service area now had come down following
consolidation in the sector.
"As the LTE (Long term Evolution) device ecosystem is evolving in each of
the spectrum bands, there is no real need to put spectrum cap in each spectrum
band," Trai said.
According to the regulator, however, imposing a cap in the sub-1GHz band was
important as these are "most optimal bands".
"Therefore, spectrum in sub-1GHz range viz 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz
should be treated separately and special provisions have to be made to
safeguard against creation of monopoly," it added.
The Department of Telecom had referred to Trai on the need to review the
current norms mandating 50 per cent cap in a particular band and 25 per cent
limit for the total spectrum held across all bands in a given circle.