Report on 2G issues in three weeks: TRAI

NEW DELHI, INDIA: TRAI will take another three weeks to submit it final report on 2G issues that were part of its recommendation on spectrum management.

“We are working on those issues and it should be completed in next three weeks,” said Dr JS Sarma, chairman, TRAI while speaking to media on sidelines of 6th Assocham Global Telecom Summit 2010.

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.

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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. In this recommendation TRAI has mentioned that service providers should pay an additional one-time charge for the spectrum they hold beyond the base spectrum.

TRAI has also mentioned that there is need for further study before coming up with final terms on pricing and payment of 2G spectrum fee.

However, these recommendations earned wrath of leading telecom operators.

Sunil Bharti Mittal in his statement to media at that time had termed it lopsided recommendation.