NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing turf battle between CDMA and GSM operators for telecom space, the government cleared the way for usage of dual technology by permitting Reliance Communications to offer GSM services.Communications Ministry December 6 informed Anil Ambani-led RCom of the changes in the license conditions and gave a go-ahead to it for offering GSM services in 14 circles, official sources said.

While officials of RCom were not available for comments, GSM lobby COAI, which has challenged the government norms for allocation of spectrum as also usage of dual technology, declined to comment saying the matter is sub-judice.Besides COAI's petition in telecom tribunal TDSAT, public interest litigation has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the norms of the Communications Ministry.

The CDMA operators led by Tata Group and RCom have been seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention against the advantages given to existing GSM players. The other side led by Bharti Airtel's Sunil Mittal has been questioning the CDMA players' disinformation campaign including about hoarding of spectrum by GSM companies.

While RCom can now go-ahead with its mobile expansion plans, the fate of the other 46 applicants and Tata Teleservices that want to start GSM services is not clear.RCom had on October 19 paid Rs 1,651 crore to Department of Telecom for a pan-India licence to start GSM services. However, since ADA group company Reliance Telecom already has GSM services in eight circles, RCom has been allowed to start operations in the remaining 14 circles.

PTI The development comes amid the bitter fight between the CDMA lobby led by Reliance Communications and rival GSM camp led by Bharti Airtel. The GSM operators lobby, COAI, has also challenged in telecom tribunal TDSAT, the government's decision to permit use of dual technology and the case is coming up for hearing on December 12.

With December 6 amendment in the license, a communication regarding which has been sent to RCom, all the formalities have been completed and the company can start GSM services as soon as it gets spectrum.Another leading CDMA operator, Tata Teleservices, which has quizzed the government on how it plans to prioritize allocation of spectrum, has also sought DoT's permission to offer GSM services.