The Department of Telecom may reconsider its decision to bar spectrum sharing for 3G services following changes that have come into effect under the new licensing regime. In the present scenario, spectrum is liberalised in which any technology can be deployed as per new rules. In light of recent policy decisions, “this condition (barring of 3G spectrum sharing) needs reconsideration/revisit” by the Telecom Commission, an official source said.
On February 15, 2012, the DoT had decided that “spectrum sharing will not be permitted among licensees having 3G spectrum.”
Government has allowed sharing among telecom companies holding liberalised airwaves for only spectrum purchased through auction in November 2012 and beyond. The auction condition said that telecom operators can use any technology for providing telecom services in the liberalised spectrum.