The Telecom Commission has reportedly directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to work on a mechanism to allocate the spectrum won by the telecom operators in auctions within a reasonable period, preferably 90 days from the date of the payment for the spectrum. Earlier in this regard, the Telecom Authority of India (TRAI) had asked DoT regarding the delay in allocation of the won spectrum in the February 2014 auctions to the successful bidders.

TRAI is of the view that telecom services in the Delhi circle may be disrupted partially from December 2014 due to delays by DoT in fresh spectrum allocation to telecom operators, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India, whose existing licences are set to expire in November 2014.The two operators have also requested DoT to expedite allocation of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band won in February 2014.

Telecom operators had paid for spectrum in March 2014. Although DoT started allocating spectrum to the operators in October 2014, the department is yet to assign all spectrum to operators, especially in the Delhi circle.

These operators have about 20 million mobile subscribers on their network in Delhi or 45 per cent of the total subscriber base. They had bought spectrum in the circle during the February 2014 auctions as their current licences are set to expire in November 2014.