TRAI endorses Raja's view on 2G spectrum auctioning

NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator TRAI on Friday endorsed Communication Minister A Raja's view that spectrum for existing 2G services cannot be auctioned saying that the telecom policy does not permit this.
    
TRAI Chairman Nripendra Misra, however, said that spectrum fee for the next generation (3G) mobile services should be delinked from the licence fee.
    
Asked about the ideal price for 3G spectrum, Misra said, "we have already recommended a base price for auctioning of the 3G airwaves which is indicative of price that should prevail."
    
Earlier this week, Raja had ruled out auctioning of 2G spectrum saying such a decision would not stand the legal scrutiny.
    
The government had already announced auctioning of 3G spectrum.
    
Misra also favoured auctioning of spectrum for the mobile TV services. He said the TRAI recommendations would be out by Wednesday which would deal with spectrum, revenue-sharing, entry fees, FDI limit and technology to be adopted among other issues.
    
Public broadcaster Doordarshan is already conducting trials on mobile TV in Delhi and some telecom operators are planning to launch this service soon.