eGoM fixes reserve price of 3G spectrum at Rs 3,500 crore

New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) A high-powered Group of Ministers
on Thursday fixed Rs 3,500 crore as reserve price for
pan-India 3G spectrum and decided to allow only five operators
to offer the high-speed mobile services in the first phase.

Four new players will be given spectrum along with one
existing operator - BSNL or MTNL - in their respective
circles.

Emerging from the meeting of the empowered Group of
Ministers, Telecom Minister A Raja told reporters: "The
government will complete the auction of 3G spectrum within
three months and expects to raise Rs 25,000 crore (from sale
of both 3G and WiMax spectrum) ."

The eGoM, headed by Finance Minister of India Pranab
Mukherjee, has also fixed the reserve price of Rs 1,750 crore
for the WiMax services.

The eGoM was given the option of fixing the base price at
Rs 2,020 crore by DoT initially, but was later changed to Rs
4,040 crore by Ministry of Finance, but the eGoM went for its
own pricing after representations from the private operators
to slightly lower it.

The next generation 3G mobile services allows high-end
mobile data services including video streaming and high-speed
internet. PTI PML
SDE


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