Trai to finish consultation on 2G pricing by July 15

Telecom regulator Trai today said it will complete the consultation process for linking 3G spectrum price with 2G spectrum by July 15 and expects the government to wait for its proposals before taking a decision.

"I have asked the operators to give their view points on 3G spectrum price linking to 2G by June 15 and we plan to finalise the process by July 15," Trai Chairman J S Sarma told newspersons on the sidelines of a function.

Asked if he expects the DoT not to take any decision on Trai's spectrum proposals before July 15, he said, "I expect the DoT to spend some time on the proposals and I have already written to them that we will be carrying separate consultation process on 2G-3G price linking. I expect the government to take sometime before finalising the proposals."

Trai chairman also said the regulators position on the issue of payment by telos for holding over 6.2 MHz of spectrum doesn't change. The recommendations were made in the context of spectrum scarcity.

He said efforts should be made by the DoT to re-farm 800 and 900 MHz of spectrum which could be made available to all the operators.

Sarma today met a delegation from Ficci, COAI, AUSPI and ISPAI that raised the regulators proposals with their different views.

Trai in its much-awaited 2G spectrum proposals on May 11 suggested operators holding spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz pay a one- time fee for the additional radio frequency.

GSM operators like Bharti, Vodafone and Idea that hold over 6.2 MHz in various circles are against the proposal as it would result in huge cash outflow.