GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Department of Telecommunications

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1002
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4^TH MARCH, 2011
Price to Be Charged for Excess Spectrum

1002 SHRI RATEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a)     whether it is a fact that incumbent UAS licensees and new entrants since 2008 are governed by the same UASL guidelines/license conditions with regards to contracted spectrum;

(b)      whether Government has announced on 29 January, 2011 that incumbent operators will pay a market price for spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz while new entrants since 2008 will pay a market price beyond 4.4 MHz to be decided by TRAI; and

(c)     if so, the basis of this differentiation between existing and new entrants where contracted spectrum is concerned?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SACHIN PILOT)

(a)     Yes, Sir.

(b) & (c) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in their letter dated 8^th February, 2011 to the Secretary. DoT has recommended the following estimated Price of 1800 MHz spectrum in 2010 on per MHz basis for a period of 20 years,

(i)      Per MHz All India price of Rs.1769.75 Crores upto 6.2 MHz

(ii)     Per MHz All India price of Rs,4571.87 Crores beyond 6.2 MHz

Further, TRA1 has recommended that the above prices may be made applicable from 1.4.2010, prorated for the remaining validity of the respective licences while charging for excess spectrum. These recommendations are under consideration of the Government.