NEW DELHI: The government is finalising a spectrum policy that would bring in an automated spectrum management system with 3G services being an integral part of it, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman Pradip Baijal said here today.

Addressing the conclave on “3G Services and Opportunities for India”, organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), Baijal said the policy on 3G has to be evolved with caution. Both the operators and the regulator would have to ensure that prices come down, while at the same time building flexibility with respect to spectrum allocation and making it affordable for carriers to create a sustainable business.

Pointing out that policies will have to be dictated by standards laid down by the International telecommunications Union (IT) and the availability of equipment in those ranges, he expressed confidence that with private operators opening more mobile towers in the interior regions of the country, 3G services would grow at a rapid pace, thus, giving a push to entertainment too.

He said the government was working on expanding and in view of the tremendous demand for broadband in rural areas and cited lack of adequate infrastructure in realising this opportunity.

Nokia Networks (Global) executive vice-president & GM Sari Baldauf spoke of the rapidly growing subscriber base of 3G WCDMA, which today stands at 11 million. WCDMA, she pointed out, provided higher capacity at lower cost leading to faster and richer services at reduced prices, consumer multimedia and broadband wireless access for consumers and corporate use.