According to sources, inter-ministerial panel Telecom Commission at its meeting on October 15, discussed the issue of spectrum allocation to the successful bidders of February auction within 90 days after payment following a government panel asking Department of Telecom to work out a mechanism for allocating the airwaves to successful bidders in a reasonable period, Reports PTI.
Sectoral regulator TRAI has also written to DoT on October 17 regarding the delay in allocating spectrum to successful bidders of February auction.
“The Authority is unable to understand the reasons for this inordinate delay in the assignment of spectrum despite the clear provision in the NIA for the assignment of spectrum and after the payment has been made by the licencees,” TRAI Chairman Rahul Khullar said in the letter.
He said telecom services in national capital may be disrupted partially from December due to delays by DoT in fresh spectrum allocation to leading operators Airtel and Vodafone.
These operators, which have about 20 million mobile subscribers on their network in Delhi or 45 per cent of the total subscriber base here, have bought spectrum as their current licences are expiring by November, end.
Industry body Cellular Operators Association of India and telecom operators individually also wrote to DoT for immediate assignment of spectrum. |