TDSAT axes Vodafone plea vs govt

The Department of Telecom DoT,through a July 3 circular,had issued guidelines that allow existing players to pay the amount discovered in spectrum auction for being able to use the airwaves for any technology for providing telecom services.

It had said the service providers may be allowed to use their existing 1800 MHz 2G spectrum towards a liberalised usage for a period of 20 years on payment of the auction-determined price.

A liberalised spectrum means the airwaves can be used for providing any service within the scope of respective service licences,using any technology.

In its petition,Vodafone had requested TDSAT to 8220;strike down and quash the impugned decision of the DoT8221;.

Vodafone had said that both DoT and telecom regulator Trai have said several times that spectrum is already technology neutral and services can be provided based on all technologies in the given band.

It had also requested TDSAT to pass an interim order to 8220;restrain DoT from giving effect to and/or implementing the impugned decision8221; related to liberalisation of spectrum for the existing ones till the final order is passed.