In a blow to the operators like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, the Telecom Commission on Wednesday proposed refarming of airwaves in the 900 MHz. This is in line with sector regulator Trai's recommendations.

This means the redistribution of the highly efficient airwaves in 900 MHz band through bidding.  Reserve price for spectrum in the 900MHz band had not been fixed, though telecom regulator TRAI had suggested that reserve price should be twice that of the 1800 MHz spectrum.

The sector regulator Trai's recommendations on this issue has listed three possible execution strategies - reframe all airwaves held by incumbents in the 900 MHz band, or allow these mobile phone companies to retain either 2.5 MHz or 5 MHz of airwaves in this band.

Telecoms secretary R. Chandrashekhar, who also chairs the commission, said on Wednesday said that the Telecom Commission's recommendations will have to be approved by a ministerial panel before they are implemented.