EGoM on telecom to meet again on 8 October

New Delhi:A crucial meeting of a ministerialpanel headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on issues suchas levy of one-time spectrum fee on existing telecom operatorsdid not arrive at a final decision today, and will meet againnext week.

Besides levy of an auction-discovered fee for spectrumthat incumbent mobile phone operators hold, the EmpoweredGroup of Ministers (EGoM) was to decide on spectrum refarmingand third phase of FM radio expansion, among others issues.

[caption id="attachment_478252" align="alignleft" width="380"] P Chidambaram.[/caption]

"EGoM has just met. All the issues were discussedthreadbare. We will have another meet on (October) 8 whenfinal decision will be taken," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibaltold reporters after a two-and-half-hour long meeting.

The Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers ofIndia, which represents firms like Tata Teleservices andReliance Communications among others, has opposed DoT move tocharge all spectrum held by existing telecom players at therates which new telecom operators will pay in the auction of airwaves due to start in November.

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Existing telecom operators were allocated spectrum alongwith pan-India licences at Rs 1,658 crore only, while newtelecom operator will have to pay a minimum of Rs 14,000 crorefor spectrum to operate across country.

Sources said EGoM deliberated on increasing number ofspectrum blocks for auction in all circles, except Delhi andMumbai.

PTI