DoT panel report on TRAI spectrum auction suggestions tomorrow

NEW DELHI: The DoT panel, which reviewed sectoral regulator TRAI's recommendations on the third round of spectrum auction, is likely to submit its report tomorrow to the Telecom Secretary, official sources said.


"The report is likely to be completed by today evening and then it will be submitted to the Telecom Secretary tomorrow. It will also be circulated to the members of Telecom Commission," the source said.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came out with recommendations on spectrum pricing and trading on September 9. The Department of Telecom (DoT) had formed an internal committee, headed by Member (Technology), on the same day to study TRAI recommendations.

The regulator in its recommendations had suggested up to 60 per cent cut from the last auction's reserve price in the floor price of mobile phone spectrum for the upcoming auction. The two previous sales had drawn lukewarm response due to high reserve price.

TRAI had suggested a pan-India reserve price of Rs 1,496 crore per MHz in the 1800 band, down 37 per cent from the base price set in the previous auction.

In the 900 MHz band, it recommended a reserve price of Rs 288 crore per MHz for Delhi, Rs 262 crore for Mumbai and Rs 100 crore for Kolkata. These rates are about 60 per cent lower than the reserve price set in the previous auction.

The committee's findings would be reviewed and placed before the inter-ministerial body Telecom Commission, sources said, adding that the Department may seek additional clarification, if any needed, from TRAI after the panel's report.