The Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) has termed a letter by rival GSM operators’ body demanding withdrawal of spectrum as “highly irresponsible and mischievous”.

AUSPI, the organisation representing new operators (both CDMA and GSM), cited recent media reports that the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) has sent a letter to the regulator seeking the withdrawal and subsequent auction of the GSM spectrum allocated to Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTL).

According to reports, GSM operators’ body COAI had moved the Department of Telecommunications seeking withdrawal of spectrum granted under the dual-technology policy.

“This demand (withdrawal of spectrum) is not only highly irresponsible and mischievous, but also misleading and devoid of any merit in its premise,” AUSPI said in its letter, addressed to DoT.

Alleging that COAI is distorting facts and attempting to present a misleading picture, AUSPI said that the rival organisation’s contention that spectrum allocated to TTL in 19 circles stands cancelled is “incorrect and erroneous”.

Spectrum was given to TTL under the dual technology policy announced in October 2007. Operators that were given spectrum under this policy were existing licensees, and TTL is an existing licensee in 19 circles, it added.

“The licences for these circles were granted in 1997, 2001 and 2004, which is much before 10.01.2008 (January 10, 2008),” it said.

(In February 2102, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 2G licences provided after January 2008, following the 2G spectrum scam.)

The government has time and again affirmed that only 122 licences are cancelled, it added.

rajesh.kurup@thehindu.co.in

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