PAN India license fee worries operators

Posted on | September 30, 2006 |

One of the major concerns of operators with TRAI recommendations on 3G spectrum allocations is the Rs 1,400-crore base price that has been set for a PAN India license.

GSM players pointed out that recommendations were near identical to Tata group chairman Ratan Tata’s offer of a Rs 1,500-crore national licence fee for 3G spectrum.

The suggestion had got him into a war of words with Mittal, who did not want any upfront fee for 3G so that services could be affordable. Other major telecom players had also dissociated themselves from Tata’s opinion.

Sunil Mittal of Bharti-Airtel expressed disappointment.

“The Rs 1,400-crore base price is slightly above the Rs 300-400 crore we were expecting. For those interested in countrywide 3G licences, the reserve price is a serious disincentive. Especially, when it comes to rural penetration. We appeal to the DoT to review and seriously lower the threshold recommended,

Category: 3G

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