No barrier for entry of new players: PM

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Prime minister Manmohan Singh today said that spectrum should be allocated in a manner where there is no barrier for entry of new players.

Singh, who inaugurated India Telecom 2007 here today, informed the government is taking steps for the vacation of spectrum by existing users.

He asked the Group of Ministers (GoM) to speed up the talks in order to make spectrum available for commercial use.

“I am aware that spectrum availability can be a constraint for the growth of this sector in future. On the supply side, our government has taken steps for vacation of spectrum by existing users. This is at an advanced stage and the requirement of making spectrum available for commercial uses is being addressed. I have asked the Group of Ministers tasked with this to expeditiously conclude its deliberations and suggest a roadmap regarding availability and timing,’’ said Singh.

Meanwhile, a GoM headed by External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, would soon take a decision on the release 25 MHz of spectrum held by the armed forces.

Mukherjee informed on Tuesday that no timeframe was set for the decision.

The Cellular Operators’ Association of India had petitioned the telecommunications tribunal against the terms of reference of the telecom panel constituted to look into spectrum allocation.

The Department of Telecommunications had recommended the allocation of 10 MHz to GSM players to 5 MHz to CDMA operators.

Union Communications and IT minister Raja, who was also present at the inauguration of India Telecom 2007, said that there is already a system in place for 2G allocation. Due to legal barrier 2G spectrum cannot be auctioned, said Raja.

However, both the prime minister and Raja said that 3G spectrum will be auctioned.