The Vigilance Wing (VW) of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has sought clarifications on the policy of one-time payment by firms like Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) for dual technology spectrum, making it tough for new players to acquire similar licence.
The VW has said that while using dual spectrum technology, the licencee must pay a fee equal to the same amount which has been paid by the existing licencees using alternate technology (GSM) or which would be paid by a new licencee if allowed to use that technology.
The VW’s move came after a complaint forwarded by the CVC that alleged that DoT’s decision to levy spectrum charges on individual technology/spectrum basis contrary to TRAI’s recommendations of combined revenue, is causing huge benefits to CDMA operators at the cost of State Exchequer.
