The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has set up a nine-member committee to examine the the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India?s (TRAI) recommendations for spectrum auctions in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. The committee has to submit its views on the issue by mid-October 2013.
According to the terms of reference, the committee headed by DoT?s member (technical), Anil Kaushal shall undertake detailed deliberations and co-opt or invite any expert or person, which, in its opinion, would be helpful in framing its response. Further, the panel will continue to advise the government on the matter even after submitting its report, till the government takes a final decision regarding spectrum auctions.
Earlier, TRAI suggested that the base price of the spectrum to be used by GSM operators be lowered by up to 60 per cent in the forthcoming spectrum auction. The regulatory body also proposed that spectrum trading should be allowed and a flat spectrum usage charge (SUC) be levied on the operators, instead of the existing SUC charges which vary between two to eight per cent.
