The DoT has rejected a demand from Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL) which asked for additional CDMA spectrum, reports the Business Standard. STTL had asked for spectrum to be raised to 3.75 MHz.

Sistema in its argument had reasoned that while CDMA operators were allotted only 2.5 MHz of start-up spectrum, GSM operators were granted 4.4 MHz. On this the DoT replied that the initial spectrum allotted to CDMA and GSM players was in accordance with the relevant provisions of their service licence agreements and according to the subscriber-linked criteria, in line with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (Trai’s) recommendations.

DoT also said that CDMA technology is much more spectral-efficient than GSM technology for cellular communications, catering to more subscribers for the same amount of spectrum. It said the allotment was worked out keeping in mind the inherent spectrum utilisation efficiency of different technologies, which leads to equitable and not necessarily equal allotment of spectrum, the department added.