A number of India’s mobile operators have raised concerns about spectrum interference in states bordering Pakistan and called on the government to ensure that the airwaves auctioned next month don’t face this problem.

Bharti Airtel, Aircel, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices and Vodafone have all reported 3G interference in border states, including Himachai Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, the Economic Times reported.

Idea claims it has not been able to launch 3G services in Jammu and Kashmir using the spectrum it obtained in 2010 because of interference.

An Idea representative told Department of Telecom (DoT) officials at a pre-bid meeting that it needs to ensure the new spectrum is free from interference, the Times said.

A DoT official said there was no interference issues back in 2010. “We have communicated this multiple times through the right channels within the government and we are continuing to work on it.”

The government has raised the issue with Pakistan multiple times since 2011 and it has denied that interference is caused by towers in Pakistan, the Times said.

The auction, which is scheduled for 23 February, will include 2G and 3G spectrum in the 800MHz, 900MHz, 1.8GHz and 2.1GHz bands.