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Trai suggestions favour CDMA, alleges COAI

BS Reporter / New Delhi September 29, 2006

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&aut....

The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) — the body representing GSM operators — has attacked the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) which, it says favour CDMA operators.

The body said the pro-rating of 800 Mhz exclusively given to CDMA operators was grossly unfair. It also sought participation in the auction of 450 Mhz, another band exclusively allotted to CDMA operators.

The telecom regulator had submitted its recommendations to the department of telecommunications (DoT) yesterday.

“The pro-rating of the second highest winning bid in 2.1 GHz auction as the price of 800 MHz band (given to CDMA operators for their 3G EV-DO services) is grossly unfair and incorrect,” COAI said.

It argued: “It should be noted that 800 MHz spectrum is far more valuable than 2.1 GHz because of its far higher propagation characteristics. In fact, logically speaking, they should be asked to give a pro-rata premium over the highest winning bid in 2.1 GHz band and also a higher reserve price.”

On 450 Mhz band being exclusively for CDMA operators, T V Ramachandran, director general of COAI, said : “It is discriminatory.”