Th e government has set up a committee to stipulate spectrum transfer charges in the case of mergers. Consequently, Idea Cellular may have to make an additional payment for acquiring Spice Communications. DoT had earlier announced that according to merger guidelines, Idea would have to pay a spectrum transfer charge but had not specified the fee. However, the industry is divided on whether the charge should be levied on Idea since DoT has already asked Idea to surrender its telecom licence in either Punjab or Karnataka, where Spice also provided services.
