NEW DELHI, INDIA: Apparently giving a thrust to speed up the process of broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum auction, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to examine the possibility of going ahead with the auction of spectrum for BWA within this financial year, a Business Standard report said on Saturday.

3G and BWA spectrum auctions were due this month and would have fetched the government Rs. 30,000 crore in revenues.

Responding to the PMO initiative, Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) said that the PMO has taken the right stand for broadband proliferation.

“An immediate nod by the Government for an independent auctioning of BWA license, with preference for ISPs in rural sector will not only fetch revenue for the exchequer but also boost e-governance - one of the priorities set by the UPA government,” said ISPAI in a press statement.

With even political leaders realizing that e-governance is the key to economic development of the country, the auction of license for BWA should not be held hostage to the auctioning of license for 3G as it would open the much needed revenue streams for the industry.

It is high time that the government de-links auction of wireless broadband services using BWA from auction of 3G licensees, the association said.

“BWA has the potential to bring high speed data connectivity resulting in improved access to education – enabling people in rural and remote areas to take classes at far away universities besides improved access to medical services, through telemedicine applications-enabling people everywhere to have virtual communications to the top doctors and medical facilities” said Naresh Ajwani, secretary, ISPAI.