Reliance Communications (RCom) and Vodafone India have met to discuss sharing 3G spectrum in Delhi and Mumbai, after they previously signed a 2G roaming deal in five service areas in the east, the Economic Times reported.

The two operators have 5MHz of 2.1GHz spectrum each in both areas, but RCom reportedly has excess 3G capacity while Vodafone India’s networks are congested in both cities, which generate the highest revenue for the country’s operators.

Vodafone India, the country’s second largest operator with a 19 per cent market share, has about 23 million 3G connections, or 13 per cent of its total user base, while number four RCom has 24.6 million 3G connections, or 22 per cent of its customers, according to GSMA Intelligence.

A source told the Times that discussions may be concluded within a month.

The government approved spectrum sharing guidelines in August and spectrum trading rules in September. A number of operators have already taken steps to share or trade spectrum.

RCom and Reliance Jio were the first to take advantage of the new regulations, announcing plans to share 800MHz spectrum in 10 service areas in August. The next month they entered into a “strategic partnership” to allow trading and sharing of airwaves in the 800-850MHz band, aiding RCom’s 4G offering. The agreement hasn’t been finalised.

Idea Cellular and Telenor India are interested in buying 4G spectrum from Videocon Telecom, a smaller player under pressure due to its large debt.