DoT (the Department of Telecom) has constituted a committee to calculate the revenue generated by 2G and 3G services. The formation has happened just two days after, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) asked how will both incomes get segregated.

The committee has been formed to answer TRAIs query, which questioned the calculation of incremental revenue out of 3G services and said it is impossible to calculate the revenue arising out of 2G and 3G services in case of a service provider, who is providing both the services. According to a recent modification made by DoT, the licensee shall pay an annual spectrum charge of one percent on the incremental revenue generate from 3G services after the period of one year.

The formed committee will examine the possibility of a mechanism that can segregate revenues generated from 2G and 3G services, once operators roll-out 3G services. It will also study the various components like voice, data, roaming that would constitute a part of 3G for revenue.

TV Ramachandran, the Cellular Operators Association of India’s chairman, had notified DoT about the possibility of calculating 2G and 3G services separately, a mechanism that is already being used in Hong-Kong.

However, TRAI said both the services use common control equipment and provide similar services, expect for the fact that 3G technology provides faster data speed. So appropriating the cost/revenue of the two services separately would be a complex and burdensome. X

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