Idea Lets Airtel, Vodafone Use Its Airwaves Until Jan 15

By Vivek

| Published: Thursday, November 27, 2014, 10:19 [IST]

As Bharti Airtel and Vodafone prepare to shift their network to newly allotted spectrum, rival Idea Cellular has agreed to let them use its airwaves in 900 MHz band for a period up to January 15.

The arrangement, which has no financial implication, is for only 45 days. Through this understanding, Airtel and Vodafone will get some time to deploy their networks in their newly alloted frequencies and their services will not disrupted during this period. "For the convenience of customers, we have agreed to let Airtel and Vodafone use the spectrum up to January 15. The decision was taken in cognizance with the Department of Telecom," a Idea Cellular official said.

Idea Lets Airtel, Vodafone Use Its Airwaves Until Jan 15

Idea will be alloted 5 Mhz block in 900 MHz spectrum won by it in the last auction held in February, on November 30. It at present holds no airwaves in this band Airtel and Vodafone at present hold 8 Mhz spectrum each in premium 900 Mhz band in Delhi, but they have to vacate them and shift to their newly acquired frequencies in 900 Mhz band.

In the auction, Airtel could win back only 6 Mhz and Vodafone 5 Mhz of spectrum in the same band. The licences of Bharti Airtel and Vodafone are expiring in Delhi on November 29. The two companies also bought some spectrum in 1800 Mhz band to make up for spectrum they lost in 900 Mhz band.

Mobile signals transmitted in 900 Mhz band cover almost double area compared to signals transmitted in 1800 Mhz band. Sectoral regulator TRAI had earlier warned that telecom services in national capital may be disrupted partially from December due to delays by DoT in fresh spectrum allocation to Airtel and Vodafone.

These operators have about 20 million mobile subscribers on their networks in Delhi or in other words 45 per cent of the total subscriber base here. Trai had earlier recommended that operators be assigned spectrum 18 months before expiry of their licences so that they can make necessary changes in their network without compromising on quality of service.

PTI