Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, RCom seek to defer telecom spectrum auction

Leading telecom companies have said the government should defer the upcoming spectrum auction till the time adequate radiowaves are made available across bands.

In a letter to Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, telcos have also written that operators whose permits are expiring in the 2015-16 fiscal may be allowed to continue with their existing in-use spectrum.

The operators, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications, have proposed to pay the price discovered in February 2014 for 1800 MHz with 900 MHz multiplier as recently recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

"This may be adjusted subsequently if required, for the price discovered in the next round of auctions," the letter said, a copy of which has also been marked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The telecom companies said conducting auctions in an environment of spectrum shortage, has serious implications on investments, predatory pricing and continuity of services and on public interest.

"We believe that our proposed solution will be in public interest as it will protect the revenues of government, ensure continuity of service to subscribers, security of existing investments as also maintain/restore investor confidence in the sector," the letter by the telecom operators said.