The government is considering reducing the number of telecom circles from 22 to four or even just one by merging them, according to local reports.
The goal is reportedly to prevent subscribers from paying extra roaming charges when moving across states….
The government is considering reducing the number of telecom circles from 22 to four or even just one by merging them, according to local reports.
The goal is reportedly to prevent subscribers from paying extra roaming charges when moving across states. The suggestion was made by a team of officers in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
In a separate report, thcoverge DoT still needs to examine over 100 applications from local cellcos seeking additional 2G spectrum. Allocation of new airwaves has reportedly been held up for the last two years.
The highest number of applications, 17, is for the Delhi circle. Bharti Airtel is the first company to request new frequencies in seven circles, followed by Vodafone in five circles, local reports suggested.
For the moment, the DoT offers additional spectrum on a first-come first-served basis, but the Ministry of Finance has said that it favours an auction process for new frequencies. The debate will need to be resolved before any player can get new spectrum.
It is unknown yet how the potential merger of circles will impact the allocation of spectrum.
