TRAI is expected to shortly make recommendations to the department of telecom (DoT) on how to allocate spectrum to mobile operators for 3G services.

Since spectrum is a rare commodity, sources said, the TRAI at its earlier meeting with DoT had held that it should be allocated only through auction process.

TRAI is also of the view that only five mobile operators among the existing ones should be given the frequency.

Bharti, Hutch, Reliance, Tatas and BSNL are the major mobile service providers with a nationwide presence. Reliance and Tata are offering CDMA-based mobile services while other operate in GSM technology.

Only recently, Reliance had evinced interest in entering GSM services in a big way.

Sources said TRAI has also suggested 2100 MHz band limit for the 3G mobile services.

Considering these, mobile operators having a countrywide network stand good chance of spectrum allocation spectrum to start 3G services, sources said.