Magazine
| Ezine |
| Current Issue |
| Magazine-Archive |
| News |
| News - Archive |
| Advertise with Us |
| Subscribe |
| Buy Latest Issue |
Subscribe Newsletter
| Mobile operators running on expired wireless permits |
| Friday, 27 July 2012 | |
|
Older mobile operators are running their networks without wireless permits. The Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecom will not give any new permits until issues related to licence renewal, including the one-time spectrum fee, are decided. This has put telecom companies, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, in a spot because without the permit their operations can be technically termed illegal. For example, Bharti Airtel’s permit for using frequency band in Delhi expired on March 29 but has not been renewed. Similarly, Vodafone continues to offer services in Mumbai though its permit expired on March 27. Telecom companies blame the DoT for the delay. “Operators applied for renewals much before the expiry date but the WPC has not moved on it. Since it’s not our fault that the permits have not been issued, there is no question of terming the services illegal,” said Rajan Mathews, Director-General, Cellular Operators’ Association of India. Under the existing rules, operators are required to renew their spectrum permit every five years. Although unified access licences are given for a 20-year period, usage of specific frequency bands in a region is controlled by the WPC through this permit. The permit, called Wireless Operating Licence, gives operators the right to use spectrum for a five-year period. However, the WPC finds itself in a quandary because the 20-year unified licences issued to some operators in 1994-95 come up for renewal in 2014-15. Hence, if it gives wireless permits now for the next five years, then operators could claim right to the spectrum till 2017. Therefore, the wireless authority wants clarity on the larger policy terms and conditions for renewing the unified licence before issuing fresh wireless permits. “At present, issues such as spectrum re-farming, liberalisation of spectrum, spectrum trading and sharing are under consideration of the Government. Issuance of fresh wireless operating licences and renewal of old permits are kept pending for want of direction in the matter,” WPC said in an internal note. –The Hindu Business Line |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
© Copyright 2007, ADI Media Pvt. Ltd.-Telecommunication, Broadband & Networking Magazine Publishers