Telco chiefs meet Sibal to discuss spectrum pricing

Discuss spectrum pricing framework and National Telecom policy 2011

PTI | January 25, 2012



For the second time in as many months, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today met chiefs of leading operators, including Sunil Bharti Mittal, Anil Ambani and Vodafone's Marten Pieters, to discuss various contentious issues such as spectrum pricing, allocation and one-time fee.

"All the operators conveyed their views on various issues which are also a part of regulator Trai's recommendations on 'Spectrum Pricing and Framework'. The Minister will take a final call on telecom commission's suggestions soon," DoT Secretary R Chandrasekhar told reporters here.

According to sources, other issues discussed in the meeting included the National Telecom Policy-2011.

Bharti Airtel CMD Sunil Bharti Mittal and the company CEO Sanjay Kapoor, RCom Chairman Anil Ambani, Vodafone India's CEO Marten Pieters, Idea Cellular MD Himanshu Kapania were among the leaders who met Sibal.

This was the second high-level government-industry interaction in less than two months. Earlier on November 30, the industry leaders met Sibal on the same issues.

The issues concerning the operators include one-time fee for spectrum beyond 4.4 MHz for GSM operators and 2.5 MHz for CDMA players, besides matters like allocation of radio waves through auction-only route.

Last year, the Telecom Commission, the highest decision making body of the Department of Telecom (DoT), had decided to levy a one-time charge for extra spectrum beyond contracted limit of 4.4 MHz (GSM) and 2.5 MHz (CDMA) held by the players, which put a burden of approximately Rs 17,000 crore in their bottom line.

Operators have been contending this decision saying there was no such clause in the licence guidelines under which a one-time charge can be imposed.

Sources said the Commissions suggestions on these contentious issues are likely to be moved before the Cabinet.

 

Comments

 

Other News

Borrowing troubles: How small loans are quietly trapping youth

A silent crisis is playing out in the pocket of young India, not in stock markets or government treasuries, but in smartphones of college students and first-jobbers who clicked on the Apply Now button without reading the small print.  A decade ago, to take a loan, you had to do some paperwor

A 19th-century pilgrim’s progress

The Travels of a Sadhu in the Himalayas By Jaladhar Sen (Translated by Somdatta Mandal) Speaking Tiger Books, 259 pages, ₹499.00  

India faces critical shortage of skin donors amid rising burn cases

India reports nearly 70 lakh burn injury cases every year, resulting in approximately 1.4 lakh deaths annually. Experts estimate that up to 50% of these lives could be saved with adequate access to skin donations.   A significant concern is that around 70% of burn victims fall wi

Not just politics, let`s discuss policies too

Why public policy matters Most days, India`s loudest debates stop at the ballot box. We can name every major leader and recall every campaign slogan. Still, far fewer of us can explain why a widow`s pension is delayed or how a government school`s budget is actually approved. That

When algorithms decide and children die

The images have not left me, of dead and wounded children being carried in the arms of the medics and relatives to the ambulances and hospitals. On February 28, at the start of Operation Epic Fury, cruise missiles struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh school – officially named a girls’ school, in Minab,

The economics of representation: Why women in power matter

India’s democracy has grown in scale, but not quite in balance. Women today are active participants in elections, influencing outcomes in ways that were not as visible earlier. Yet their presence in legislative institutions continues to lag behind. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was meant to addres


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter