Communications Minister A Raja today ruled out auction of 2G spectrum and said that discussions were on with the finance ministry to charge a one-time fee for allotting extra radio waves to the operators, beyond the initial start-up spectrum.
“It (one-time charge on 2G spectrum) has been discussed and is going to be discussed in the Telecom Commission in consultation with the finance ministry. The one-time charge will be for the 2G spectrum for over 6.2 Mhz spectrum,” Raja said on the sidelines of a telecom summit.
“It has already been clarified that 2G cannot be auctioned because the licence conditions say wherever the initial spectrum of 4.4 Mhz has been given, it becomes a contractual obligation,” Raja added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
