(a) whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mooted a proposal to Department of Telecom
to charge the GSM operators like Bharti, Vodafone, Idea, BSNL and MTNL for holding excess 2GT spectrum in
line with 3G auction;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SACHIN PILOT)
(a) & (b) TRAI in their recommendations on Spectrum Management and Licensing Framework dated 11th May, 2010
has recommended that all the service providers having spectrum beyond the contracted quantum should pay excess
spectrum charges at the Current price. TRAI further recommended that the 3G prices be adopted as the Current
price of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band and the Current price of spectrum in the 900 MHz band be fixed at 1.5
times that of the 1800 MHz band. Subsequently, on 18th May, 2010, in continuation to their recommendations
dated 11th May, 2010 TRAI suggested the Government to await further recommendations on the issue of payment
of excess spectrum charges at the Current price as the Authority is separately initiating an exercise to
further study this subject and DoT is yet to receive these recommendations.
(c) Does not in view of (a) & (b) above.