NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications has taken on record 800 Mhz Spectrum Sharing in seven circles of Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) and two circles of Reliance Telecom Limited (RTL), wholly owned subsidiary with Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL).

Giving this information to Bombay Stock Exchange, Reliance Communications Ltd said this was with effect from 21 April 2016.

The development was with reference to the earlier letter dated 18 January 2016 informing sharing of spectrum in 800 MHz with RJIL.

The Company and RTL are now able to share spectrum with RJIL in nine circles:  Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh (East), Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orrisa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and the North East.

The DoT had in February approved sharing of active infrastructure like antenna used for transmitting mobile signals.

It is learnt that RCom has already paid Rs 5,383.84 crores to liberalise its spectrum in 16 circles which include Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP East and West, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kolkata and Bihar.

A liberalised spectrum allows telecom operators to use any technology to deliver mobile service like 3G and 4G. Besides, it allows introduction of new technologies and sharing and trading spectrum with other operators for its efficient use.

The Cabinet has earlier cleared liberalisation of spectrum allocated without auction to telecom companies - at prices recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India with the balance being collected after deriving market rate through bidding