Going by TRAI norms, which suggested up to six times more subscribers to become eligible for additional spectrum, the operators may end up holding excess airwaves. These surplus airwaves can accommodate 4-5 new players, sources said. Department of Telecom (DoT) has already conducted a detailed study of all GSM players with regard to their subscriber base and equivalent spectrum they hold.
Most existing GSM players have 10 MHz of spectrum in major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, sources said. Since new spectrum quantity would be decided as per TRAI formula the operators would have to return excess airwaves in many circles, they added.
However, no decision has been taken on whether DoT would enforce the rule that spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz would not be allocated, the sources said. At the same time, DoT has begun the process of revising spectrum usage charges to maximise the revenues to the government. The Telecom Commission has been given 15 days to complete the exercise to rework the charges.
Sources also denied that the report of Telecom Engineering Centre has been completely rejected while accepting TRAI's recommendations. TEC, which is the technical wing of DoT, had suggested up to 15 times more subscriber base for spectrum allocation.
In fact, the government is planning to appoint another panel for a detailed study to discover spectrum allocation formula based on scientific analysis. This may take about six months and TRAI norms would be implemented as an interim solution till then.
While GSM operators deny having surplus spectrum, their main rival Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Communications has accused the top three GSM operators -- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular -- have more than 55 MHz spectrum in excess and it should be taken back from them.
Ambani had also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard that excess spectrum should be taken back to distribute among new players.
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