In October 2003, TRAI provided recommendations on Unified Licensing.  The 

first stage of migrating towards Unified Licensing i.e., Unified Access Licences 

which means that the Service Providers can offer both fixed and mobile 

services using their spectrum has been implemented by the Government and  

UASL licenses have been issued.  This license has moved beyond technology 

neutral approach to service neutral approach under one license. Text Box 5.3 

UASL license mentions the following criteria for spectrum allocation  

Text Box 5.3 Spectrum allocation criteria in UASL license  

 43.5  Subject to availability and as per Guidelines issued from time to time, the spectrum 

allocation and frequency bands will be as follows : 

43.5.(i)  For wireless operations in SUBSCRIBER access network, the frequencies shall  be 

assigned by WPC wing of the Department of Telecom from the frequency bands earmarked in 

the applicable National Frequency Allocation Plan and in coordination with various users.  

Initially a cumulative maximum of upto 4.4 MHz + 4.4 MHz shall be allocated in the case of 

TDMA based systems @ 200 KHz per carrier or 30 KHz per carrier or a maximum of 2.5 MHz 

+ 2.5 MHz shall be allocated in the case of CDMA based systems @ 1.25 MHz per carrier, on 

case by case basis subject to availability.  While efforts would be made to make available 

larger chunks to the extent feasible, the frequencies assigned may not be contiguous and 

may not be the same in all cases or within the whole Service Area.  For making available 

appropriate frequency spectrum for roll out of services under the licence, the type(s) of 

Systems to be deployed are to be indicated. 

43.5(ii)  Additional spectrum beyond the above stipulation may also be considered for 

allocation after ensuring optimal and efficient utilization of the already allocated spectrum 

taking into account all types of traffic and guidelines / criteria prescribed from time to time.  

However, spectrum not more than 5 + 5 MHz in respect of CDMA system or 6.2 + 6.2 MHz in 

respect of TDMA based system shall be allocated to any new Unified Access Services 

Licensee.  The spectrum shall be allocated in 824 844 MHz paired with 869   889 MHz, 890   

915 MHz paired with 935   960 MHz, 1710   1785 MHz paired with 1805   1880 MHz. 

43.5(iii)  In the event, a dedicated carrier for micro cellular architecture based system is 

assigned in 1880   1900 MHz band, the spectrum not more than 3.75 + 3.75 MHz in respect 

of CDMA system or 4.4 + 4.4 MHz in respect of TDMA system shall be assigned to any new 

Unified Access Services Licensee. 

43.5(iv)  The Licensor has right to modify and / or amend the procedure of allocation of 

spectrum including quantum of spectrum at any point of time without assigning any reason. 

5.3 

Need for change 

The present basis of allocating spectrum based on Subscriber base in a way 

reflects the Erlang density but assumes constant traffic pattern (i.e. mE / sub). 

In a dynamic and aggressively competitive sector like ours, substantial traffic 

increase occurs when tariffs fall, thereby, upsetting the basic assumption of 

constant traffic pattern. 

58