New Delhi: In a big setback to existing GSM mobile operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, the Telecom Engineering Centre today proposed an exponential increase in subscriber base to avail of additional spectrum.

In Delhi, for example, an operator can accommodate six lakh subscribers with the initial 4.4 MHz of spectrum. But to become eligible for next tranche of 6.2 MHz spectrum, the company has to garner 19 lakh subscribers and to avail 8 MHz spectrum the subscriber base has to be at least 34 lakh. This marks a substantial increase in the subscriber base for availing additional spectrum as earlier recommended by telecom regulator TRAI. In fact, in certain cases TEC proposal have become even more stringent than the TRAI's proposals.

In some cases like Haryana, Kerala and others, the TEC has lowered the subscriber base. The proposals assume significance as TEC is the technical wing of the Department of Telecom and its suggestions have a bearing on final policy. Enhanced subscriber link criterion was the main irritant for existing GSM operators and they had even challenged it in telecom tribunal TDSAT.

Source : PTI