Govt allots 3G spectrum to telcos for testing

The government has alloted 3G spectrum to MTNL, BSNL, Hutch and Bharti for testing. TRAI will finalise recommendations for pricing and allocation of 3G spectrum by the end of the month, reports CNBC-TV18.

The Department of Telecommunications will take the final call after TRAI makes recommendations on 3G spectrum allocation. The defence sector is expected to vacate 45 mega hertz spectrum by the end of the year.

Sources say that 3G spectrum allocation will be made available for less than a month. Strength of spectrum allocation will be 1,000 times less than the actual 3G spectrum.

The government's spectrum allocation to telcos is purely for testing various equipments that will be used, once 3G spectrum kicks in.