New spectrum policy to create level playing field: TTSL (India)

Tata group firm Tata Teleservices (TTSL) has welcomed Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal’s announcement of delinking spectrum from licence, stating that the move will create a level-playing field for all operators.

According to TTSL Executive President (Mobility Business) Deepak Gulati, the company compliments the telecom minister for his announcement, which they are sure, is the first of many that will work toward ushering in a level-playing field in the industry.

Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal had announced that spectrum would not come bundled with the licence as per the new telecom policy. The contract limit of spectrum has also been reduced to 4.4 MHz for new operators, while for the old operators, the limit has been retained at 6.2 MHz.

According to Gulati, they are confident that this will now end the delay that occurred earlier in the grant of 6.2 MHz spectrum, as also even start-up spectrum in key Circles like Delhi and many other districts, to players like TTSL.

To the decision that henceforth all spectrum, initial as well as additional, would be given at market driven price, Gulati was of the view that operators, who have excess spectrum are charged for the same, preferably retrospectively, to bring all operators to a level-playing-field.

He added that consequent to bringing the level-playing field, the spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz and up to the limits specified by TRAI in May 2010 could be charged by DoT in line with the telecom regulator’s recommendations.