CDMA Cos get TDSAT nod for dual technology

Telecom tribunal (TDSAT) has supported the Government’s decision to allow CDMA players, such as Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Tata Teleservices, to launch GSM services. The tribunal also observed that GSM players are not entitled to more than 6.2 MHz of radio frequencies. This move will strengthen the Government’s efforts to impose a one-time fee for radio frequencies, exceeding 6.2MHz. Some GSM players such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar have up to 10 MHz in certain circles. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had challenged the Department of Telecom’s (DoT) decision on October 18, 2007, to amend the telecom licences and allow mobile operators to provide services on ‘dual technology’, whereby an operator could offer both GSM and CDMA platform with a single licence. Rejecting COAI’s petition, the tribunal said: "We are unable to agree with COAI that DoT’s impugned order of October 19, 2007 has disturbed the level-playing field." It added that there is nothing irregular in granting 4.4 MHz as start-up spectrum (for launching GSM services) to respondent (RCOM). Last year, the Delhi High Court had rejected the GSM operators’ plea on the issue of dual technology and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 each on six petitioners, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone-Essar and Idea Cellular, and COAI.