GSMA welcomes recommendations on India's 3G spectrum

May 17, 2005

The GSM Association (GSMA) welcomes the news that the recommendations of the Indian Regulator (TRAI) stay within the Indian Government's established policy of global spectrum harmonisation for 3G services, contained in their Spectrum Policy (NFAP 2002). This ensures that India retains alignment with the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) IMT2000 core (2GHz) band for 3G services.

Last year the GSMA called on TRAI to remain within the global IMT2000 scheme for harmonised 3G services and reject the US PCS band and the mixed-band plan proposals, which would have led to isolation of India's mobile telecommunications and IT sectors.

"The global mobile community is now looking to the Government of India's final policy decision to ensure that India can expedite deployment of harmonised 3G mobile services, in line with the rest of the world," said Tom Phillips, the GSMA's Government & Regulatory Affairs Officer. "This will open up enormous opportunities for India's IT industry to support the development of applications and solutions on a global basis. The IMT200 core band scheme will ensure that Indian users benefit from significant economies of scale, choice and value, all of which are critical market drivers in support of the government's goal of reaching 200 million subscribers by 2007."

However, the GSMA also notes that some of the other recommendations of TRAI could provide unfair advantages to CDMA operators over GSM. As part of its recommendations, TRAI suggested immediate release of additional spectrum for CDMA operators in the 800MHz band - which the GSMA views as preferential treatment with no set timetable for the release of additional spectrum to operators of GSM and future 3GSM based services.

The GSM Association is therefore calling on the Minister of Telecommunications & IT and India's Telecom Commission to demonstrate fair and equal treatment for all players with regard to timing of allocation of spectrum for 3G services- both EVDO & 3GSM (W-CDMA), when the final decision is made, and to ensure the simultaneous release of spectrum in the 2GHz (IMT-2000 core band), and 800MHz frequency bands.

"Whilst India's regulator is on track to implement 3G in harmony with the global spectrum scheme, its plans to favour specific technologies by allowing them a head start, are inconsistent with the Government's policy of technology neutrality, and do not provide a level playing field for all operators," added Phillips.