COAI urges HC against spectrum allocation to Reliance Comm

New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has urged the Delhi High Court to not to allow the Government to allocate GSM technology to Reliance Communications till the case was pending before it.

Counsel for the COAI, Abhishek Manu Singhvi urged Justice Gita Mittal not to allow the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) to cross over spectrum from CDMA to GSM till the case was not solved.

The petition is scheduled for hearing in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appelite Tribunal(TDSAT) on February.

Solicitor General G E Vahanvati, appearing for the Central Government, had told the court earlier that it would take minimum three months to allocating spectrum to the eligible parties.

The COAI had accused Reliance Communications of crossing over of spectrum from CDMA to GSM technology whereas other members have been kept away from the spectrum deal.

Urging the Government to provide a level playing field to all the enterprises, Dr Singhvi cited many discrepencies in the manner Reliance was given the GSM technology.

''We are not opposed to the competition, but we challange the back door entry of Reliance'', he said.

Dr Singhvi said the government should ensure that no services should be launch for two months till TDSAT decides the case. This will prevent chaos and create investors confidence, he added.

COAI has challanged the new norms of Government set up by the official panel to review the recommendations made by the telecom engineering centre that oversee the radio frequencies in the country.

Senior Lawyer Harish Salve arguing on behalf of Reliance Communications today denied the charges of any foul play in allotment of additional spectrum to them. The matter will continue in the High Court on January 31.

UNI SNG SK VP0018