DoT gets info from MCA on eligibility of 85 new licences

The telecom ministry today said it has received inputs from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs with regard to eligibility of 85 new licences and would take a final decision soon on whether these need to be cancelled.

Last year, DoT had served 119 show cause notices to various telecom operators, of which 85 were for those ineligible to get licences.

"We have received the inputs from the Corporate Affairs Ministry and the final examination is being done. We are also seeking the Attorney General's view since the legal view is required," Department of Telecom (DoT) Secretary R Chandrasekhar said on the sidelines of a Nasscom Emergeout Conclave.

Earlier, telecom ministry had informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that it has issued show cause notices to 13 companies for termination of their licences, who are stated to be ineligible for getting them.

Further, replying to a query on availability of spectrum for auction in this fiscal, Chandrasekhar said, "We don't have any BWA spectrum available on pan-India basis, we have spectrum available for 15 circles we are discussing the matter internally within finance ministry to look into the matter".

The PAC, headed by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, had sent 40 questions to the DoT relating to 2G spectrum scam.

Suggesting that notional loss reported by the audit report should be seen in light of benefit that it has gone to consumers and for public welfare in large in form of quick economic growth.

The DoT had said the objectives of the Telecom Policy since 1999 is to increase teledensity and affordability for consumers, while maintaining a level playing field between incumbents and new players as well as revenue accrual for the government.

The Department pointed out that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had also not recommended any methodology for auctioning 2G spectrum in its report of 2005, 2007 and 2010 related to telecom licences and spectrum allocation.

DoT had pointed out that the CAG had not considered recommendation of Trai made that spectrum in the 800, 900 and 1800 MHz band (presently used as 2G spectrum) should not be subject to auction.