DoT: Difficult to start 3G auctions before polls

The global auction for 3G spectrum is likely to be taken up by the next government with the telecom department today saying that it is difficult to start the auction process before the general elections commence in mid-April.

“It looks difficult,” Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura said when asked whether the auction of 3G spectrum would be possible before of the general elections.

The government had constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) early this month to decide on the issue of pricing of 3G spectrum auction. The GoM would also look into the number of players in 3G mobile services in a circle.

The GoM is yet to come out with clarifications on pricing of 3G spectrum.

The 10-member GoM comprises External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Telecom Minister A Raja.

Railways Minister Lalu Yadav, Chemical and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj, Minister of State for External Affairs Ananad Sharma and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are also members of the GoM.

Behura further clarified that he is not in race for becoming the Trai chairman. “I have read in papers that I have not applied for the post and which is correct.”