The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering defining a pricing mechanism for the non-commercial spectrum band used by government departments, say news reports.
It is believed that a similar process is in the pipeline for the spectrum used for satellite and terrestrial communication links, mainly used by space, defence and other strategic organisations.
According to DoT?s report prepared by the working group on the Telecom sector for the 12th Five Year Plan, ?Pricing of spectrum should be delinked from all licence-related issues. Spectrum pricing should be determined in such a way that the primary objective of increased penetration of telecom services and availability to consumers are not lost sight of. The pricing policy of spectrum in non-commercial bands and those used in satellite and terrestrial links should be relooked to ensure that spectrum is efficiently utilised.?
While DoT is yet to finalise the prices of 2G spectrum, the pricing of non-commercial spectrum would not only help the government exchequer earn extra revenue but also prompt government agencies to opt for more efficient use of radio frequencies.
