The Telecom Commission has referred the issue of 2G spectrum pricing back to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), after its members failed to reach a consensus on this matter.
TRAI had recommended that 2G spectrum up to 6.2 MHz be priced at 53 per cent of the 3G auction price and at 136 per cent of the price for 3G spectrum beyond 6.2MHz.
It is believed that TRAI will file fresh proposals on this issue to the Department of Telecommunications in three to four weeks time. These suggestions will then be sent to the Telecom Commission for its approval.
Meanwhile, the Telecom Commission is undecided on how to calculate the one-time fee to be taken from operators for holding spectrum beyond the contractual limit. Prior to this, it had approved TRAI?s recommendation that operators holding more than 6.2 MHz and 5 MHz of 2G spectrum, respectively, should pay a one-time fee to retain the excess spectrum. The fee is to be paid for the remaining tenure of an operator?s mobile permit.
On mergers and acquisitions, TRAI had recommended a five year lock-in period, while the Telecom Commission favoured a three-year lock in period.
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