Telecom panel sends spectrum sharing-trading guidelines back to regulator

For want of clarity, an inter-ministerial committee on Wednesday decided to send back to the telecom regulator a proposal on spectrum trading and sharing guidelines.

During discussions in the inter-ministerial Telecom Commission, it was felt that there was need for some more clarity on the issue and the proposal was, therefore, sent back to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had earlier said the guidelines will be brought out shortly.

The government, at present, allocates spectrum to telecom companies through the auction route only. Once trading is allowed, it will help telecom operators, with lower subscriber base, to trade in it.