The Defence Ministry has released 10 Mhz of 3G spectrum prior to the auction for the same in January but is irked by the telecom department’s non-inclusion of this fact in the information to the prospective bidders in its official document.
This has complicated the matter as it may also necessitate telcos to re-work their auction strategies. So, with this spectrum release, two additional slots can be auctioned in each circle, but the DoT first has to acknowledge this, said a mobile operator.
While the Defence Ministry is peeved at DoT, saying the release of 3G spectrum (1069-1979 Mhz) band by it has not been reflected in the revised Information Memorandum, it has also expressed unhappiness over inclusion of certain bands of spectrum release for BSNL and MTNL which has not been vacated by the forces and has in fact not even been discussed between them.
“In respect of 3G spectrum for BSNL and MTNL (as appeared on the revised Information Memorandum) spectrum allocated in five states — Punjab, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Assam falls outside the coordinated band of 1954-1979 Mhz not in the 1969-1979 Mhz, released by defence ministry,” the Defence Ministry said in a letter to DoT.
