The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has estimated the financial implications of the migration package of 1999 (that permitted private operators to shift from a fixed licence fee to a revenue-sharing regime) at Rs 435.23 billion.
This figure has been formally communicated by DoT to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the 2G spectrum issue and changes in telecom policy since 1998.
According to P.C. Chacko, chairman, JPC, the committee has asked DoT for clarifications on whether these calculations factored in the extension of the licence period from 10 to 20 years for cellular operators and from 15 to 20 years for basic service providers. This query also included the reduction in licence fee by 2 per cent from 2004.
He added that DoT would publish a final estimate of the loss to the exchequer on account of the migration package after considering these issues.
