Telecom operators who won the spectrum allocation auction in recent March 2015 are likely to receive the spectrum soon, reports Economic Times.
Last week, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued letter of intent (LoI) to players like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications and Reliance Jio Infocomm, who won the auction in March. This fast pace action seen in closing allocations is viewed as Modi government’s efforts to become industry-friendly.
Such a swift action is necessary, as the operators will more need time to reconfigure the networks after receiving the airwaves, especially in a scenario to avoid coverage disruptions. The telecom operators also have hefty formalities to complete before the completion of process, including submission of bank guarantees, approving notice inviting applications (NIA) etc.
Earlier auction in February 2014 took almost 8 months to complete the process, and DoT was heavily ccriticisedfor the delay.
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) expressed their anticipation for the process completion. “We hope early issue of LoIs will also translate in early assignment of the airwaves won in March,” said Rajan Mathews, Director-General, COAI.
Also read: “Pan India 2015 spectrum holding data sheet (updated)t
Bharti Airtel received spectrum allocation in 10 circles – 7 circles in 2,100MHz and 3 circles in 1,800 MHz. In the remaining 13 circles, airwaves will be allocated between December 2015 and April 2016.
Please inform me when AirTel going to launch 3G services in MP & CG circle. Idea 3G is very costly, heavily congested, Reliance 3G is worst service, DocoMo has coverage issues.
@JOY: Hi, if you are waiting eagerly for airtel 3g service, then you are doing a big mistake. In Kolkata circle their service is too worst. They are billing for activation of service but not giving service. I personally faced this. I don’t think airtel can give better service. And here the cost is also high like other operators like 60MB@23. But lets hope you will get good service by airtel.
True.. I would suggest you should give bsnl a try.
@cr4zyh0rs3 BSNL 3G sim are always unavailable in small towns areas like ours, secondly 3G coverage of BSNL is pathetic in our circle. Even after paying for 3G BSNL services your mobile will show G or E while accessing internet.
Now How does that feel ?? Now will you give BSNL A TRY ???
@Subha I didn’t knew that airtel has poor service in kolkata, as airtel doesn’t have 3G spectrum in Kolkata circle, services aren’t going to be good. My point is in our circle, AirTel is giving very good service in 2G network, we are getting good internet speed @ 2G, streaming videos, whatsapp, etc. smoothly in 2G internet packs. As the biggest circle of the country geographically [MP-CG] this not a small thing. Our circle has been maintained by Ericsson for airtel, i didn’t know about kolkata where services started 20 years back, hope airtel improves everything & u guys gets… Read more »