COAI asks DoT to implement TRAI's uniform spectrum usage rate recommendations

Implementation of the recommendation would lower spectrum usage charge (SUC) of telecom players while increasing the rate for those have broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum including Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL).

The spectrum usage charge, which is levied annually by government as percentage of revenue earned by telecom companies from telecom services, varies from 3 to 8 percent in case of mobile operators. It is currently 1 percent for firms like RJIL.

The COAI said the BWA spectrum was acquired under a ISP licence and the scope of licence was limited to data services.

"By allowing such licensees to migrate to Unified Licence (new licensing regime) the terms of NIA have already been changed for the BWA players. These players cannot be heard to say that the terms of NIA are sacrosanct and cannot be changed," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews said.

The COAI represents GSM telecom operators including Bharti, Vodafone, Idea and Uninor.

RJIL in September had protested against TRAI's recommendation saying that 1 percent of SUC charge was one of conditions in the notice inviting application (NIA) on the basis of which the company purchased spectrum and it is legally binding.

(Also see: TRAI reiterates spectrum auction proposal to cut base price by 60 percent)

In October, RJIL procured UL with additional payment of one-time entry fee of about Rs. 1,673 crores. The new licence allows RJIL to provide voice telephony as well.

No immediate comments were received from RJIL on the matter.

Mathews said the players contesting against TRAI's recommendation "cannot be allowed to selectively pick and choose the terms of NIA that can be changed."

The DoT has reportedly calculated that uniform SUC as suggested by TRAI may lead to a loss of Rs. 2,657 crores over a period of 10 years.

Mathews, however, said that instead government will gain by lowering SUC as it gets factored in to the business case of operators leading to higher upfront bids.

"As a corollary, continuing with the high escalating charges will not only stifle the participation, but will lead to lower bids," he said.

Mathews added that continuing with high SUC will discourage purchase of spectrum, impose differential and discriminatory spectrum costs on different operators, hinder proposed spectrum reforms and discourage mergers and acquisitions activity.