Final decision on 2G spectrum pricing within 3 months

The Telecom Ministry will take a final decision on 2G spectrum pricing and on those holding airwaves beyond contracted limit of 6.2 Mhz, based on recommendations of TRAI, within next three months before seeking Telecom Commission’s approval.

“Decision on 2G spectrum pricing is expected in next 3 months. DoT internal committee is finalising it. After we get it we will send the same to Telecom Commission,” Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Secretary Mr R Chandrasekhar told reporters here.

Last month, telecom regulator TRAI had recommended over six-fold increase in the spectrum price to Rs 10,972.45 crore for a pan-India licence with 6.2 Mhz spectrum as compared to Rs 1,658 crore now.

In fact the regulator had classified valuation of spectrum in two categories. There are different prices for spectrum up to contracted limit of 6.2 Mhz and for additional airwaves.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had also recommended ‘one-time’ entry fee for additional spectrum beyond 6.2 Mhz. The spectrum price varies from circle to circle in both categories.

Replying to a question on the cancellation of licence of Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB), Mr Chandrasekhar said, “No decision on cancellation of licenses of Swan has been taken so far, any decision will be taken by end of April only.”

The government had sent a show-cause notice to Etisalat DB asking it to explain why its licences in Delhi and Mumbai circles should not be cancelled for missing rollout obligations.

The telecom department had also issued a notice to Aditya Birla company Idea Cellular for cancellation of 2G licence in Punjab.

The notice to Etisalat DB came after the department had collected over Rs 300 crore in penalties from most new operators for not starting services within the stipulated time after getting the licences and spectrum.

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