Plan Panel to advice DoT on spectrum allocation, pricing soon -Governance Now

Plan Panel to advice DoT on spectrum allocation, pricing soon

Government to ensure no arbitrariness in the passing of spectrum

PTI | June 10, 2011

The government on Thursday said the Planning Commission will soon give suggestions on spectrum allocation and pricing to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to end all arbitrariness involved in the process.

"Preliminary discussions have taken place and we are in the process of giving very detailed comments. Some comments we have already sent and we will soon be giving our detailed comments to the DoT," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning Ashwani Kumar told reporters in Hyderabad.

He said, "It will be our endeavour to give our inputs which would facilitate in such way that...all arbitrariness if any in the past in the allocation and pricing of spectrum is eliminated."

Kumar added, "Our inputs would be designed to ensure that there is no arbitrariness in the passing of spectrum."

Although he did not specify the time-frame for giving the suggestions, the minister said, "It will be done shortly and will not be delayed."

The Planning Commission will give its comments to the Ministry of DoT, which will examine it and take inputs from stakeholders before sending it to the Cabinet, Kumar said.

He said DoT will take into account pricing, besides different views, and the recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the matter before giving its suggestions.

A large number of senior politicians and business executives have been arrested and are under scanner in the allocation of 2G spectrum on the allegations that they have cost the exchequer thousands of crores of rupees.

"A very close attention is being paid to on the issue considering the environment and the need to dispel any ambiguity about the pricing of spectrum in the future and to bring out the best way forward," he added.

The DoT had earlier sought the views of the Planning Commission on how to efficiently use spectrum.

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