 "J S Deepak")
J S Deepak, a 1982-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has taken charge as the Secretary for Department of Telecommunications.
This will be Deepak’s second stint in the telecom ministry, wherein earlier he has credited with the smooth auction of 3G and BWA (broadband access) spectrum way back in 2010 as the joint secretary – telecom, where the government raked in revenues of Rs 1.06 lakh crore.
The development came at a time when the industry is tackling the issue of call drops. Also, the move comes ahead of a mega spectrum auction being planned by the government in the coming fiscal.
Earlier, Deepak was serving as the Secretary IT in the same department. He replaced Rakesh Garg, who has been moved out to minority affairs ministry as Secretary. These are a part of bureaucratic reshuffle announced last week.
Besides, Deepak was also roped in for handling 2G spectrum auction in 2012, post cancellation of 121 2G licences by the Supreme Court during the tenure of former minister A Raja. He was then a joint secretary in Department of Commerce. His inputs were taken for the more recent coal block auctions too
Deepak holds an MSc degree in electronics from Banglore University and MBA from IIM, Ahmedebad.
The telecom ministry has been in the line of fire over the issue of call drops reaching alarming levels. The ministry, telecom regulator TRAI and telecom players have been meeting regularly to sort out various factors leading to call drops. While government has been blaming operators for not investing in network, telcos have been citing lack of spectrum and non-availability of sites to install towers as the main problems. Also, the government is planning to conduct a mega spectrum auction in May/June this year, which may earn government revenues of Rs 5.5-6 lakh crore.
