Policy on spectrum allocation transparent: Prasad

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's policy on spectrum sharing, trading and allocation is transparent, Telecommunications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here Monday.

"Our policy on spectrum sharing, trading and allocation is transparent," he informed the Lok Sabha.

The government plans to conduct the next round of spectrum auction in February 2015 in order to meet revenue target of this fiscal. Spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands will be put up for sale starting Feb 3.

In the Budget 2014-15, a revenue of Rs.9,355 crore has been projected from the auctions.

As many as 29 licences belonging to Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications are set to expire next year.

The government has said it has earned a total revenue of about Rs.35,792 crore from telecom companies as different charges during the last three years. It has earned Rs.61 crore so far in 2014-15.

The government collected Rs.17,756.71 crore revenue as spectrum usage charge between 2011-14 and Rs.19,989.43 crore was collected through spectrum auction between 2012-14, he said.