HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  


Search:



The Web

Rediff








Business
Portfolio Tracker
Business News
Specials
Columns
Market Report
Mutual Funds
Interviews
Tutorials
Message Board
Stock Talk



Home > Business > Business Headline > Report

Trai may not allow more cell operators

Thomas K Thomas | January 29, 2003 12:43 IST

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is likely to oppose the opening up of the cellular sector to unlimited competition due to shortage of frequency spectrum.

According to senior Trai officials, while the regulator is yet to formalise its view on the matter, allowing unlimited operators in the cellular services sector will be against international practices, where there are only three or four operators per circle.

In India, there are already four mobile operators per circle in addition to the wireless in local loop limited mobility operators.

Some members on the Trai board have also expressed reservations about allowing more operators in the cellular sector.

"The government had struggled to provide frequency spectrum even for the fourth operator. It has also not addressed the demands of the existing cellular operators for more spectrum. In such a scenario, it will be difficult to allow more players in the market," said the official.

The communications ministry had sought Trai's recommendations on the feasibility of allowing unlimited competition in the mobile sector. Former Telecom Minister Pramod Mahajan is also in favour of allowing more operators in the segment.

However, the proposal has been opposed by the cellular lobby, which says the existing operators are finding it hard to sustain their business and allowing more operators will only make matters worse.

Cellular operators also point out the existing operators have been pleading with the government for allocating more spectrum, but so far nothing has happened.

Currently, cellular firms get an average of 6 Mhz of spectrum even as international operators are provided with 15-20 Mhz of spectrum.

The ministry has expressed its inability to provide additional spectrum soon since most of the available bandwidth is occupied by defence agencies. The department of telecommunications has also set up a high-level committee to look into the issue.


Powered by



Article Tools

Email this Article

Printer-Friendly Format

Letter to the Editor



Related Stories


A Marie Antoinette telecom policy

TRAI needs to pull up its socks

MTNL connects gains



People Who Read This Also Read


TRAI to make internet affordable

TRAI refuses to review order

'WLL usage will cost more'







HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  
© 2003 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.