DoT on a regulation amendment spree; 3G and WiMAX policies both updated

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced that it has made amendments to its previously announced 3G and WiMAX policies. Under the changes, foreign players will now be permitted to acquire Indian operators immediately, following the removal of the mandatory three year waiting period. The regulator has also reiterated that, other than existing Indian licence holders, only telcos with prior experience in offering 3G services will be allowed to bid for 3G spectrum. Confirmation that CDMA players will now face an auction for 3G spectrum has also been announced.

Additionally, it has been revealed that the base price for WiMAX spectrum has been doubled, with the regulator raising the entry fee to INR10.1 billion (USD221.9 million), although successful bidders will be now be allowed to offer voice services in addition to data as part of the change.