Telecom Commission recommends base price spectrum auction

The Telecom Commission (TC) has recommended the base price for the upcoming spectrum auction, sources tell CNBC-TV18.

The commission is learnt to have recommended the base prices of 900 Mhz spectrum at Rs 3,693 crore per MHz, 1800 Mhz at Rs 2,191 crore and 800 Mhz for Rs 3,646 crore – higher than TRAI’s recommendation. However, it will re-examine the telecom regulator’s recommendation on E-GSM implementation. Though the commission has agreed to a 30 percent discount on base price in Rajasthan for 1800 Mhz and 50 percent off (on base price) for the North-East area, it has said no to auction in Maharashtra and West Bengal for the 1800 Mhz band as partial spectrum is available, sources said.

The TC is also learnt to have deferred decision on spectrum return by BSNL and MTNL and has taken note of Defence Ministry’s efforts to release 2100 Mhz band spectrum.