Have to make telecom spectrum 'affordable', says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Listing out various challenges faced by nations across the world, the minister also drew attention to the impact of 'Big Tech' on democracies and societies

Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the "public good" element in spectrum pricing is now widely recognised, leading to a changed thought process that seeks to strike a balance between maximising revenue and maximising services to the poor.

Addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2021, Vaishnaw noted that consultation process on spectrum pricing is currently on, and urged the industry to participate in discussions and offer suggestions to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the issue.

"They (TRAI) will come up with a final document, based on which government will take a decision. But the thought process is that we have