Temasek, Ho Ching, has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express “concerns regarding the latest proposals for the allocation of wireless spectrum.
NEW DELHI: Overseas investors in the telecom sector have now joined in to fight the spectrum battle at the highest level.
Executive director and CEO of Singapore government-owned investment company Temasek, Ho Ching, has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express “concerns regarding the latest proposals for the allocation of wireless spectrum in India”. Among the foreign players, Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin had also written to the PM on the issue.
While Vodafone has a controlling stake in the second-largest GSM operation in India (Vodafone Essar), Temasek owns a 9.9% stake in CDMA service provider Tata Teleservices. Temasek also owns 54% of Singapore Telecom (SingTel), which in turn holds 31% of the largest GSM operator Bharti Airtel.
Temasek has offered help “to facilitate any exchanges with other regulator”, while stating that it is the prerogative of the regulatory authorities to decide on the spectrum allocation criteria.
The Temasek CEO has told the PM that “the latest proposals risk making private operators sub-scale, when they have a real window of opportunity to be global champions”.
She added that “as a long-term investor in India, it is my sincere suggestion that you invite your regulators to consider the best practices and strategies around the world”. She has requested the PM for “open dialogue” with the telecom operators.
“The world has seen India’s transformation….. and look forward to similar successes in the telecommunications sector with your support,” the letter to the PM states. Besides Temasek, another letter that did the rounds on Thursday was one written by Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi to the PM.
“An increase in the subscriber linkage by as much as 800% in the revised criteria that was reviewed only last year, indicates that the objective is not to ensure spectrum efficiency but rather to ensure spectrum deficiency for the existing GSM operators,” the Shiv Sena letter said.
Shiv Sena has also recommended that allocation of spectrum should be made through auction only. Among others who have approached the PM so far on the telecom spectrum issue are Anil Ambani, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Chandrababu Naidu, Jairam Ramesh and Kamal Nath.
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