TC meet deferred, FinMin wants all spectrum rates

An important meeting of inter ministerial panel Telecom Commission, which was to discuss key issues today including spectrum price for the next round of auction and mergers and acquisition guidelines, has been cancelled.

According to sources, the Finance Ministry representative in the Commission has asked for indicative base price for all CDMA and premium 2G spectrum in all circles that were not incorporated in recommendations made by sector regulator Trai.

However, it could not be officially confirmed. The next date of the meeting could not be ascertained.

Trai has recommended pan India base price for 2G spectrum freed from cancellation of licences in February 2012 and for premium radiowaves in 900 Mhz band for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata service area.

The Telecom Commission at its last meeting had asked to seek prices of all the set of radiowaves as sought by the Empowered Group of Ministers on telecom, headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

The telecom regulator, however, in its reply last week did not add price for CDMA and 900 Mhz spectrum in service area where they were proposed to be placed for auction.

The recommendation of Trai has come under sharp criticism by a set of players who have alleged that the regulator has favoured incumbent 2G players like Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Loop.

The panel was also expected to finalise guidelines for sector's first mergers and acquisition policy which is expected to pave way for consolidation in the sector and reduce the total number of players.