DoT has asked TRAI to share recommendations on the method of allocation, pricing and eligibility criteria for providing access to the spectrum to local telecom equipment manufacturers.

DoT’s move to seek TRAI’s opinion on the matter has come over as a result of an Indian company Coral Telecom approaching DoT to use this spectrum to set up a private GSM network.

The government has reserved spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz band which is to be exclusively used for developing indigenous telecommunication networks. This was done by the government as part of the National Frequency Allocation Plan to encourage development of indigenous telecom equipment.

While the government has set aside spectrum for such applications, it is yet to formulate the allocation policy for the same.

A private GSM network supports mobility requirements within a large campus. It can also be deployed in rural areas for providing cost-effective services through low-powered scalable networks.