Panel examining allocation of some spectrum by allotment:Deora

DoT panel has been given the task to examine conditions which need to be satisfied to adopt auction as preferred mode of allocating spectrum

 

The government has formed a committee to examine conditions for allotment of some of the spectrum through allotment route, Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said today.

"A committee has been constituted in Department of Telecom to examine various issues related to allotment and pricing of spectrum, including conditions which need to be satisfied in order to adopt auction as the preferred/sole mode of allotment of spectrum, conditions and types of spectrum for which administrative allotment of spectrum should be adopted as the norm," Deora said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He added the report of the committee is awaited.

Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal had earlier said that adopting auction route every time for allocating spectrum "does not make sense", and the Cabinet would decide on the issue based on a DoT panel report.

The DoT panel has been given the task to examine conditions which need to be satisfied to adopt auction as the preferred or the only mode of allocating spectrum.

It is also studying conditions for which administrative allotment of spectrum should be treated as a norm.

The last spectrum allocation through administrative process for mobile telephony was done in 2009. It was put on hold after Supreme Court judgement of February 2, 2012 which cancelled 122 2G telecom licences and asked government to allocate the spectrum through auction.