The GSM Association (GSMA) has urged the Indian government to accept the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) recommendation that the next airwaves sale should be undertaken only once sufficient bandwidth across 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands is available.

The GSMA has also urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to expedite the swapping of 3G spectrum (in the 2100 MHz band) with the armed forces, as well as formalise a timeline for auctioning 700 MHz airwaves, typically used for 4G services. The Association is of the view that the successful conduction of the next spectrum auctions is crucial for the growth of the Indian telecom industry.

In its recent spectrum pricing recommendations, TRAI had advocated auctioning 3G airwaves together with 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands and noted that failure to add airwaves to the auction pool will lead to artificial scarcity. This, consequently, will lead to fierce bidding by players who are desperate to win back the spectrum as their licenses are due for renewal in 2015-16.