DoT questions TRAI on 2G prices; telecom biggies meet top govt officials

04 May 2012 Evaluate

After much hue and cry of telecom companies, Department of Telecom (DoT) has questioned the regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority on the steep rise in the prices of 2G spectrum. In its written communication, the DoT has sought clarification on the 'basis on which the efficiency factor and other indicators of the price has been derived,' in fixing the base price for spectrum in 800 Mhz and 1800 Mhz bands due for auction.

The telecom biggies have already sought government’s intervention on the issue, the rise in 2G prices likely to have catastrophic effect on the sector. The chiefs from Bharti Airtel and Vodafone met Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and urged them not to accept the prices recommended by TRAI. “We presented our case to leadership and senior ministers in the government. This industry is vital for the nation and the recommendations of TRAI could spell a death knell for the industry,” Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal said.

TRAI has increased the prices of 2G by over ten times then the prices at which the band was issued in 2008. The companies will have to shell out Rs 3,600 crore for pan-India spectrum renewal for a 5Mhz block, which is about 8 percent higher than even the pan-India 3G spectrum block. However, final call on the prices will be taken by EGoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

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