The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday issued a consultation paper on spectrum management and its pricing, and review of licence terms and conditions. It has sought the industry’s views till November 12 on other crucial issues that include auction of 2G radio waves and cap on the number of players per circle.
The consultation paper — Overall spectrum management and review of the license terms and conditions — will address spectrum related issues that include identification of spectrum bands for commercial usage, assessment of demand for spectrum and its availability, ensuring efficient utilisation of available spectrum, policy for re-farming of spectrum.
Similarly, licensing related issues include need for limiting the number of access service providers in a service area, de-linking of spectrum from licence, terms and conditions of existing licensees for extending validity of these licences perpetually or otherwise, spectrum assignment mechanisms, spectrum pricing, spectrum trading and spectrum sharing, while spectrum consolidation methods include M&As, spectrum trading and sharing, and technological advance in spectrum.
“With rapid growth of wireless services, the demand for spectrum has tremendously increased. Consequently, spectrum management for its optimal utilisation assumes great significance and has become a critical issue in deciding the future of telecommunication in the country,” TRAI said.
Keywords: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI, telecom regulator, spectrum, licence, industry views, auction, 2G radio waves, Department of Telecom, DoT, Allocation of Access, GSM, CDMA, pricing
