Telecom regulator, Trai is reportedly of the view that additional spectrum allocation for  operators who in future will offer 2G as well as 3G services will be difficult as it would not be possible to segregate the subscriber base for each of the services.

It is widely believed that operators will use 3G spectrum to offer 2G services as well to compensate for the spectrum crunch. Currently additional spectrum for 2G is linked to the subscriber base and is granted only after the operator reaches the criteria in terms of subscriber base.

“In this case, it will be difficult to allot additional spectrum in 2G to such a service provider on the subscriber base criterion. In such a scenario, the authority has recommended that this aspect must be referred to the Committee constituted by the Department of Telecom (DoT) to look into the issue of spectrum allocation criteria,” said Trai to DoT.

The Committee was constituted last year and comprises of DoT’s wireless wing, Trai, Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) and other representatives from the industry.