TRAI working on 2G spectrum pricing: Chairman

NEW DELHI, INDIA: TRAI Chairman JS Sarma today said that the telecom regulator is working on new proposals about the pricing of 2G and it is expected to come out with the same at the earliest. However, when he was asked whether the pricing recommendation will come out this month, he didn't commit a specific date and said that hopefully it would come by this month end.

TRAI came up with recommendation on spectrum management and license fee in the second week of last May. These recommendations included pricing for 2G spectrum given in excess to base spectrum.

However, telecom operators are against this proposal.

The authority recommended 6.2 Mhz as base spectrum for all operators to start telecom service. The authority has also recommended that the price of 2G spectrum in excess of base spectrum should be paid by operators to the government at the current price which was set in proportion with the amount government gained from auction of 3G spectrum.