The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal on Wednesday refused to stay the process of issuing new licences and allocation of spectrum.
RCom will now get GSM spectrum, GSM players to move court
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Wednesday refused to stay the process of issuing new licences and allocation of spectrum.
As soon as the news was out, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing players in the global system for mobile (GSM) communications band, decided to move the Delhi High Court, a PTI report said.
The COAI has been lobbying against the use of dual technology, which would allow players in the rival code division multiple access (CDMA) band, like Reliance Communications (RCom), to enter the GSM arena.
The TDSAT move also means that the government will now be free to award licences to new players who had applied before September 25.
Last month, the COAI had moved TDSAT against the government’s move to allow the use of dual technology.
Although RCom was recently permitted to offer GSM services, the COAI petition had put a hold on the process.
Now, the GSM path has been cleared for RCom, after a month-long ban. However, RCom will be in the GSM spectrum queue, and will get airwaves only after those who had been awarded licences earlier.
TDSAT will meet on January 9 next for the COAI case.
Tata Teleservices, another CDMA player, also filed its application to offer GSM services recently. Even two regional CDMA players - HFCL and Shyam Telecom - have deposited fees for their GSM services now. While HFCL paid Rs 151.75 crore for the Punjab circle, Shyam has given Rs 32 crore for the Rajasthan circle.
Both HFCL and Shyam have also applied for fresh GSM licence across the country.
Besides RCom, GSM players like Idea and Aircel-Maxis are in the queue for start-up spectrum in several circles. Idea, for instance, is now expected to get start-up spectrum for Mumbai and Bihar.
More than 40 companies, including Unitech, Parsvnath, DLF, HFCL, Shyam Telecom, Swan, Cheetah, Videocon and AT&T, had applied to DoT in September for telecom licences.
The government would issue LoIs to those who are able to provide clarifications to DoT queries.
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