'3rd round of spectrum auction within 70 days of EGoM nod'

Government will conduct the third round of spectrum auction within 70 days of receiving approval from an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, sources said.

"It will take around 70 days to start auction of airwaves from the date EGoM decides on it," a senior Department of Telecom official told PTI.

The official said the EGoM is expected to meet soon but no date has been decided yet.

The EGoM would also decide on auction of 2G spectrum in 1800Mhz band, premium airwaves frequency in 900 MHz band and CDMA spectrum that remained unsold in March 2013.

"Planning Commission Deputy Chairman  Montek Singh Ahluwalia wants that spectrum pricing matter should be referred to TRAI. But referring matter to the regulator may delay auction as well as refarming. These are issues due to which clear time for auctions cannot be given. Only EGoM can decide on it," the official said.

Ahluwalia on April 1 wrote to Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal to seek fresh recommendation of TRAI on spectrum price as the previous two auctions, held in November 2012 and March 2013, have failed.