The UPA government will now be fast-tracking what could be branded the ?second generation? telecom reforms, most of which have been lingering on for sometime. Cleaning up the 2G spectrum space by levying an acquisition charge beyond 6.2 MHz, devising the mechanism for mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), spectrum trading, port charges for mobile number portability (MNP), un-bundling of start-up spectrum from telecom licences will form part of the reforms agenda.
However, the long-awaited carrier access code (CAC), which allows subscribers to choose their long distance operator, is likely to be dropped, as it is not being seen as relevant any more. Communications and IT minister, A Raja, who will kick-start the process on Friday by announcing the 3G policy, will touch upon the other issues as well by laying a clear roadmap.
Cleaning up the 2G-spectrum space, where a one-time acquisition fee is now sure to be levied on operators for having spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz, tops the agenda. ?The 2G spectrum space is now going to be cleaned up, spectrum allotted up to 6.2 MHz is more than sufficient and optimum for the players, according to the internal study conducted by the technical wing of the DoT. All the operators need to do is to invest adequately in the infrastructure,? a source told FE.
The development would come as a big relief to the CDMA operators, who have been consistently urging the government for doing so. With regard to MNP, which allows subscribers to retain their phone numbers while changing service providers, department of telecommunications (DoT) officials said Raja will unveil the implementation strategy. Sources said DoT is finalising the porting charges by studying the models of different countries. For this, the department is collecting data as to how many subscribers actually port in the countries where MNP has been implemented.
Spectrum trading would be a big agenda, as the line of thinking is now clear at DoT that the scarce resource be allowed to be traded amongst operators, with government getting a slice of the pie.
In the case of MVNOs, DoT feels it is the right rime to allow this sort of an arrangement, given that it simply amounts to ?re-branding? of the talk time and changing its long-held stance that it is a deterrent for investing in infrastructure.