DoT resolved a lot of pending issues: Prasad

He said govt has received investment proposals worth Rs 18,000 cr in last six months in the field of electronic manufacturing

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, on Saturday, said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had resolved a lot of the long pending spectrum issues, including some of the Defence spectrum issues.

Recently, the defence ministry had agreed to release 5MHz of spectrum in the 2,100 MHz band, which DoT will auction along with 800, 900 and 1,800 MHz bands in February.

The proposed swap of 15MHz spectrum in 2,100MHz band, with similar quantity in 1,900MHz band, between the armed forces and the DoT is underway.

Prasad, who was speaking at the annual general meeting of industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, also said the government has received investment proposals of worth Rs 18,000 crore during the past six months in the field of electronic manufacturing.

“We have, till now, received proposals worth Rs 18,000 crore after coming in power. There is a scope for improvement. An amount of Rs 4,000-crore investment we have approved, others are in the pipeline,” said the minister.

However, Prasad also said telecom operator  needs to look at efficient management of existing spectrum holding while the government works to make more spectrum available for commercial use.