Government allots 2G spectrum Licence to New Operators

The private operators have been awarded Licenses under first come first served policy of the Government under Unified Access Services Licence (UASL) regime since 2003. Since then almost all the operators have diluted their equity in order to raise funds for investment in the company. Government has been issuing UAS Licence at a pan India fee of Rs. 1658.5701 crore and those who desired to operate wireless service under UAS Licence obtain wireless operating Licence. Government as a policy has been providing wireless spectrum to the operators based on the subscribers based criteria without any upfront charge and levy annual spectrum usage charges on revenue share basis.

The department does not maintain at what price equity has been sold to the foreign companies by the private operators.

To increase the number of telecom operators in the country, the Government has issued 122 new Unified Access Services (UAS) Licenses in 22 service areas of the country during the year 2008. Now 12 to 14 telecom access services providers are licensed in all the 22 service areas in the country. There is no cap on number of access services licenses in a service area. Government envisages induction of telecom operators for 3G (Third Generation) Mobile and BWA (Broadband Wireless Access) Services as per guidelines issued on 1.8.2008.

Licenses for provision of National Long Distance, International Long Distance and Internet Services are issued without any restriction on number of operators subject to fulfillment of eligibility conditions.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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