Trai seeks spectrum use charges details from DoT - Economic Times

NEW DELHI: The telecom sector regulator has sought details on aspects of applying differential charges on spectrum for commercial and captive usage from the telecom department that had sought the former's recommendations on the issue.

According to an internal note, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked the telecom department (DoT) to give details about the present regime of spectrum usage charges (SUC) applied to captive, commercial networks and services under community radio stations, besides the formulae on which such charges are being levied. Captive users include central and state government departments, defence and paramilitary forces, disaster management organisations, airport authority, airlines, ports and ships. They require limited spectrum for specific geographies on sporadic demand.

Apart from seeking the present policy, Trai has also sought a list of commercial satellite operators and frequencies allotted to them. The regulator has asked the reasons for assigning spectrum for less than the term of 20 years as per the unified license when spectrum is used for providing public services such as community radio. DoT had in February asked for recommendations for pricing the spectrum in cases of noncommercial, captive and social usage of spectrum, like for instance community radio stations, where it cannot be discovered through auctions. It has also asked Trai to define social services.

The department is seeking recommendations since all future airwaves for commercial use are supposed to be allotted at a market determined price, through auctions. Further, any spectrum given out for less than 20 years, which is the full term of a licence period, will have an impact on the auction process and its rules besides the market price, level playing field and revenue realisation.

However, DoT had suggested that the regulator must take into account that allotment of spectrum for captive and commercial satellite services will constinue to be on administrative basis and that SUC will be levied administratively, based on a formula. Telecom department is acting on suggestions of a committee tasked with looking into issues related to administrative allotment of spectrum.

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