Weeks after the 700 MHz spectrum went unsold in India’s biggest auction, BSNL has approached the Telecom Department for airwaves in the premium band for rolling out 4G services. The telecom PSU has suggested that a 5 MHz block in the 700 Mhz band be assigned to it by the government through the equity route.
Industry bodies like GSMA have urged Indian Government to reconsider the pricing for 700 MHz band, which failed to find buyers due to its “unrealistically” high pricing. But Shrivastava downplayed the concerns on pricing, saying that spectrum in the 700 MHz band would be an asset for the corporation, given its plans for 4G services.
BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava notified that they do not have right kind of 4G spectrum which can give them overage, although they have some 4G spectrum which can give them the capacity. He mentioned that if 700MHz comes, in combination with 2500 MHz band available with them, then they will be in a position to roll out 4G services through spectrum route across the country.
He also said that 700 MHz offered clear advantage such as “good coverage” with lesser number of base stations. Explaining the model being proposed by BSNL, he said that the spectrum could be assigned, in lieu of Government raising its equity in the corporation.
By Baishakhi Dutta
