Telecom watchdog TRAI will carry out an audit of the existing 2G spectrum held by operators within the next three to four months, TRAI Chairman J S Sarma said today.

"We will carry out a spectrum audit of the existing spectrum with operators in the next 3-4 months," Sarma said.

The audit will also look into how efficiently the spectrum is being used and the deployment of technology by the operators, Sarma added.

The proposed audit holds significance, given that TRAI's 2G spectrum pricing recommendations to the government have come under fire from telecom companies, who allege that they will be counter-productive.

As per the recommendations, operators will have to pay for any spectrum beyond 6.2 Mhz at prices linked to 3G spectrum.

Sarma said, "Several more things can be done in 6.2 Mhz," and the audit will prove his point. .

Asked about Mobile Number Portability, Sarma said TRAI was anxious for portability services to commence and has already written to the government in this regard.

"The delay is mostly due to BSNL, as most of the large operators are in advanced stages of readiness. However, we expect it will be a reality by September," he said.

Reacting to a comment on the high 3G spectrum price at an interactive session with Bharat Chamber of Commerce members, Sarma said, "The apprehension is not right as even this price is not the highest cost input for telecom companies... It was done through an auction route."

Citing the example of the Delhi circle, he said even based on conservative estimates of 2 million 3G subscribers by the industry, the spectrum cost will be Rs 75 per month per subscriber.

What is more, in case TRAI's 2G spectrum price recommendations were accepted, the per subscriber per month cost for the operators would not be more than Rs 5, he said.

Speaking about the need for spectrum, Sarma said the country needs more spectrum and there was a need for additional spectrum of 300-500 Mhz in future, as telecom will be a powerful delivery tool for health and education.

TRAI will come out with a national broadband plan by August, which will lay a nationwide fibre optic network.

The telecom watchdog will come out with a consultative paper on replacing telecom towers with small instruments in 42 Indian cities having a population greater than one million.

This would be done to improve the landscape of the city, as well as reduce the threat of radiation and noise.