Excess GSM spectrum fee opposed by operators

GSM operators, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, have written to the Indian Prime Minister opposing the proposed penalties on telecoms companies with more than 6.2MHz spectrum. Indian news source The Hindu Business Line reports that the operators, through the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), argue that such penalties would be ‘improper and legally untenable’. However, the Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) are backing the plans, insisting that those GSM operators with excess spectrum should either be charged for it, or forced to release it. The Department of Telecom (DoT) is still debating the issue, and no date has been set for its ruling.