2G GSM + CDMA Spectrum Allocation till Date Vs Subscribers in India
I undertook a joint study with an associate of mine on the distribution and allocation of 2G Wireless Spectrum in India across all Circles and all operators. The main motive of the study was of course to figure out viability of wireless broadband for various operators. However, I thought I’ll share the Spectrum that operators are holding to as it is now believed to be a Multi-Billion Dollar SCAM 
My associate has published the complete mobile spectrum allocation details here [ Recently, you heard A.Raja blaming it back on BJP Government, you can make the guess by browsing the Matrix ].
BSNL+ MTNLÂ together are holding the highest Spectrum Read more
Parliamentary committee on IT questions DoT practices
The DoT which is one of the most non-transparent departments of the Government of India, directly under the Telecom Minsistry has come under the scanner of Parliamentary committee on IT constituting MPs. The committe has sent 34 questions to the DoT on why it is not following the regulations of TRAI, India’s most powerful and professional organization for Telcom sector.
A. Raja, telecom Minister in response to CVC had stated that DoT has followed TRAI regulations in awarding licenses + spctrum on first cum first serve basis. Now, the committee has explicitly asked DoT,
Please reconcile and cite specific recommendations of TRAI by which DoT was guided while allocating spectrum in the manner which it has done.
Additionally, DoT has been asked to justify the removal of word “acquistions” from the Mergers & Acquisitions clause until the roll-out obligations have been met by licensees. Hopfully, the Parliamentary committee completes its invetigation and recommends actions aginst DoT and offocials in the Telecom Minsistry.
Spectrum + License Scam – A. Raja Defends + Lock-in Proposal + Insider Views
In the new 2G operator licensing and spectrum allotment scam, Telecom Minister A. Raja tried to defend his First-Come First-Serve allotment in a press conference but TRAI has always maintained a distance from A. Raja’s policy since allotment as it always wants to be recognized as a powerful Telecom Regulatory functioning with integrity. TOI writes that A. Raja has very weak standing in this case.
I strongly criticized A. Raja’s spectrum allocation move in Feb-08 but in vain. Why didn’t our dear politicians in the Left / Communist act then ? Don’t they all know prevention is better than cure ? Do our Left / Communist political bosses want a Nano shift to happen in new Telecom operators + licenses ?
3 year lock-in for new operators – An Eye wash:
It is the Government under the able leadership of A.Raja which has committed the mistake [or with vested interest ?] of allowing new licensees to sell their stake without any roll-out obligations or commitments. Now A. raja is making an attempt to dilute the issue by a fresh 3 year lock-in period clause.
Insider Views:
What has happened is, cash rich companies like Unitech and Swan [was once backed by Anil Ambani, but the thin thread seems to be cut now and is now part of Mumbai based Realty Major Dynamix Balwas] floated wireless subsidiaries and wanted to make a quick buck by getting the license and spectrum and sell it off to some foreign operator [It is a suspense which only A. Raja can confess on why he opted for the First-Come First Serve Policy]. But due to Global Economic crisis, the plan didn’t work as well as they expected but they still managed to pull the strings together and rake in a moolah. Unitech Sold stake to Telnor and Swan sold stake to Etisalat. This is when the Political bosses in Left / Communist woke up as they realized what was the true value of 2G mobile license and spectrum 
I am wondering what is the solution to the problem, when elected representatives of people act against the interest of the Nation.
A. Raja’s Telecom Licensing + Spctrum Challenged
Exactly a year ago I had written on how A. Raja was favoring certain business houses with twisted policies as if it was his grandfather’s Ministry. Finally, a brave soul Mr. Gupta has come forward and filed a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court of Delhi against License and Spectrum allocation.
The left front has accused A. Raja for a Rs 51,000 crore [$10 bn] Telecom License and Spectrum allocation scam. What was the Left doing over the last 6 months when Mr. Raja was allotting spectrum as though he was the king of India.
How A. Raja favored Reliance again ?
Recently, Mr A. Raja has levied an additional 2% spectrum fee for operators holding more than 6.2 MHz of spectrum. This will directly affect BSNL, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. BSNL is all in the house matter, so its spared and the other three have to bear it. Now according to telecom policy / TRAI GSM operators were eligible for twice the spectrum than their CDMA counterparts as the latter network was considered more efficient and was give preference in the frequency range. So why isn’t A. Raja levying a 2% spectrum fees on CDMA operators holding more than 3.1 Mhz of spectrum ? Reliance will be severely affected and Tata Indicom to some extent.
This will go on and hopefully end once the 3G licenses are auctioned.
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