The Department of Telecom (DoT) plans to auction third generation (3G) spectrum in two phases, the first by 2008-end and the next after March, 2009. DoT is doing so due to the alternative network for the defence forces, which will result in vacation of radio frequencies for 3G, will be ready only by March, 2009.
The first phase would involve the auction of the limited spectrum that will be released by the Air Force later this year. In a bid to enable the Air Force to vacate about 30 MHz of 3G frequencies for commercial telephony, the DoT will ensure that the first phase of the alternative network for defence, which is being built by BSNL, and will connect about 160 locations operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), is completed before the year-end. After March, 2009, the Army and the Navy will vacate radio frequencies, following which a second round of 3G auctions will be held. Several operators have already approached the department seeking that only a joint auction be carried out after all the three armed services, Air Force, Army and the Navy to vacate radio frequencies. DoT also added that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was likely to approve its request for additional funds to the tune of INR 1,077 crore for completion of the first phase of the alternative fibre network project undertaken by BSNL. At present, cellular companies like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and BSNL cannot launch 3G telecom services such as mobile TV, interactive gaming and high speed Internet on mobiles unless 3G spectrum vacated by the defence forces is reallocated to them.
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South Asia
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