Indian mobile operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular have demanded allocation of a part of the CDMA spectrum in the 800 MHz band for GSM services, reports PTI. The three companies recommend that the 800 MHz band is harmonised with the international plan to become part of an extended 900 MHz band. This will increase the availability of spectrum in the 900 MHz band by up to 10 MHz (or over 40 percent). Operators prefer the 900 MHz band as it requires fewer towers for the same coverage as the 1800 MHz band currently used for GSM services. The three GSM operators wrote in a letter to the Department of Telecom that the government should earmark airwaves from 880 MHz onward for GSM players, instead of the current band from 890 MHz. The companies added that it will lead to optimum utilisation of 800 MHz spectrum as well as make up for the loss of revenues to the government after no bidders emerged in the planned auction of the 800 MHz band. The government has said it may re-auction the 800 MHz band by March 2013.
