Telecom Commission may consider IMG suggestions next month

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Commission, the apex decision making body of the Department of Telecom, is likely to discuss recommendations of the inter-ministerial group aimed at providing relief to the sector next month before they are sent to the Cabinet for final nod, a senior official said.

“The IMG recommendations will be placed before the Telecom Commission again along with legal opinion and TRAI’s recommendations on spectrum cap,” a DoT official, who did not wished to be named, told PTI.

TC had in principle approved extension of time period for the payment of spectrum bought in auctions by telcos to 16 years from the current 10 years as recommended by the inter-ministerial group. It also approved recommendation of the IMG — tasked with finding solutions for the financial difficulties of the telecom sector — to lower interest rate charged over penalties imposed on service providers with slight modifications.