[IE]
The Telecom Commission has given its in-principle approval to sectoral regulator Trai's recommendation of allowing spectrum trading.
"The Telecom Commission (TC) has in-principle approved spectrum and has said that it should be incorporated in the final documents for the next round of auction. However, the commission has asked DoT to issue guidelines after comprehensive recommendations fromTrai," an official source said.
The TC, an inter-ministerial panel, met on Thursday. It had sought additional information and clarification on most of the key points recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for third round of auctions.
Spectrum trading is one of the few points on which the inter-ministerial panel has given its in-principle approval, the official said.
As per Trai recommendations, private entities should also allowed to sell spectrum which as of now is done by the government only.
The regulator had suggested that only those companies which participated in auction should be allowed to carry out spectrum trading.
Trai has recommended that "that only that spectrum should be allowed to be traded which has either been obtained through auction or on which the TSP (Telecom service provider) has paid the prescribed market value to the Government."
Trai will have to revert to DoT in 15 days on the
clarifications sought. Clarifications provided by Trai will be placed before next meeting of TC scheduled for October 29.
The decision of TC will be then placed before Empowered Group of Ministers for final decisions related to third round of auction which is expected to be conducted by January.
