3G spectrum policy, mobile number portability soon
Tuesday, 13 November 2007, 20:30 IST
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New Delhi: The government will soon release third generation (3G) spectrum for telecom service providers through auction and introduce mobile number portability, Communications and IT Minister A. Raja said here Monday. The minister said mobile number portability, which allows a user to shift operators without having to change the phone number, would be introduced on a trial basis only in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai by end 2008. "Foreign players will also be allowed to bid for 3G spectrum, but their securing it will be subject to security clearances," Raja told a press conference. Raja said the government is currently working out guidelines for 3G, which will enable faster voice and data transfer. The spectrum will be released only for the 2.1 GHz band. He said the telecom firms allotted 3G spectrums would not be permitted any merger for five years. Initially, the government will allow only three telecom operators to offer 3G services during the first phase with about 10 megahertz of spectrum each. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), a body representing GSM players, has not welcomed this move by the government. "It is bizarre that the government is proposing as many as 8-9 operators in every service area in the case of 2G, while seeking to introduce a near monopoly market in 3G," said COAI director general T.V. Ramachandran.
Source: IANS
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