Broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum holders like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Aircel may soon be able to keep their spectrum Usage Charge (SUC) at one percent of the total revenue.
 
Reliance JIO has suggested a formula for separating revenue from data and voice services. The company has both spectrum in 2300 MHz band for data and 1800MHz band for voice services.
 
BWA spectrum attracts one percent SUC, while voice spectrum attract three percent.
 
In a letter to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Reliance Jio has said that it was possible to segregate revenue earned from the two spectrum bands. This can be carried in fool proof and transparent manner and it will also be in compliance with 3GPP standards.
 
According to Reliance JIO, call detail records can be maintained for 8 years. The CDRs captured will give full details of spectrum usages and charges and allow clear identification of spectrum use (voice, data, SMS) for each transaction.
 
Reliance JIO has claimed that there would be complete integration and automated data flow from the source of CDRs right up to the accounting system that would generate various statements to be submitted to DoT. Company further explained that complete process being put in place would also take care of spectrum-wise revenue segregation for bundled plans in fair, transparent and full proof manner.
 
If DoT accepts these suggestions by Reliance Jio it would help telecom companies to save on spectrum usage charges for next 15 years. Last year Attorney General had opines against hiking spectrum usages charges for Reliance Jio. On the basis of this EGoM had asked DoT to look into whether revenue from both spectrum could be segregated or not.
 
DoT has already made a committee to suggest ways to segregate revenues from different services.