(18 August 2007 4:25 pm)

NEW DELHI: Refuting reports that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India was contemplating putting a cap on the number of telecom operators in the country, the Government has announced that Defence Services are releasing further spectrum to ensure unimpeded growth of public mobile services.

Communications and Information Technology minister A Raja said that the Defence Services will shift certain defence wireless links to alternate media like optic fibre cable.

In reply to another question, minister of state Shakeel Ahmed admitted shortage of spectrum was a key factor for degradation to performance and quality of service for wireless access. He said that Trai was studying the issue and had not submitted any report so far.

He said there was at present no cap in any of the 23 telecom circles, each of which had five to eight Telecom Access Service Providers.

He announced in reply to another question that the assessment of spectrum requirements to achieve the national targets of mobile telephones had been made and use of alternate media had been planned appropriately.

While the Government was yet to announce spectrum policy for 3G services, the Board of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) had reviewed the GSM tender with the possibility of restricting the order to 2G component. But following the legal opinion, the BSNL has decided to maintain the provision of the tender including the 3G component. He noted that BSNL employees had also raised their concern against possible restriction of order on 3G component and requested for immediate release of purchase order.