DCC may discuss proposal to conduct spectrum auction in December meeting

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Jio had urged the government to reduce the price, following which the matter went to the regulator for a review.

Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash on Monday said the proposal to conduct spectrum auctions in this financial year could be discussed in the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) meeting scheduled next month. He, however, did not specify the date for the meeting. DCC is the apex decision-making panel of the government on telecom. The telecom panel is expected to approve the suggestions made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the quantum and price of 5G spectrum and the airwaves in the premium 700 MHz band.

The regulator said its August 2018 recommendations on spectrum valuation and reserve prices never mentioned