2G auction: DoT to brief ministers tomorrow

NEW DELHI, INDIA: As the TRAI recommendations raised many eyebrows, the Telecom Commission, the apex decision making body, has sought clarity from the regulator.

The commission, in its today’s meet, has sought clarity on the regulator’s rationale for number of slots in the 1800 MHz band in addition to eligibility criteria. The next meeting of Telecom Commission will be held on May 15.

Meanwhile, the telecom panel is also expected to brief EGoM (empowered group of ministers) on recommendations as well as court proceedings tomorrow, the sources suggest.

EGoM includes defence minister A K Antony, home minister P Chidambaram, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, telecom minister Kapil Sibal, law minister Salman Khurshid and I&B minister Ambika Soni and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee heads EGoM.

The telcos had last week sent a five-point agenda to the telecom commission Kapil Sibal, indicating of a 25 per cent hike in tariffs.