New Delhi: The Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) may now examine the issue of grant of licence and allocation of 2G (second generation) and 3G (third generation) spectrum to telecom companies, it is learnt.
Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation had raided the offices of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) over the alleged arbitrariness in allocation of 2G spectrum.
Currently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is holding an open-house consultation with industry representatives on how 2G spectrum should be allocated to telecom firms, and whether it should be auctioned.
As for 3G services, the auction is scheduled to start on January 14, 2010. But the CAG probe into the spectrum and licensing issue may pose yet another hurdle for the 3G auction.
Sources said that DoT has requested CAG to access the files concerning grant of license to several telcos through CBI. During the recent CBI raid, it is believed to have taken many of those files for examination. DoT and communications minister A Raja have been under scrutiny ever since several licences were issued to companies without any experience in the sector. Another allegation against DoT is that 2G spectrum was allocated to these companies on a first come first serve basis at a throwaway price, rather than through auction.
Meanwhile, the government is expected to take a decision on whether to auction 2G spectrum or not, based on the Trai recommendation, following the open house consultation.


