Government still working out dates for next spectrum auction

TRAI has invited written comments from stakeholders by December 21.

New Delhi:

The government is yet to decide on dates to conduct the next round of spectrum auction, Parliament was informed on December 16.

"The government has not yet decided on dates for conduct of the next round of spectrum auction," Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The minister was replying to questions if TRAI has set in motion the process for the next round of auction and the time by which it is likely to be held and completed. He further said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the consultation paper on November 26 on valuation and reserve price of spectrum in 700, 800, 900, 1,800, 2,100, 2,300 and 2,500 Mhz bands.

TRAI has invited written comments from stakeholders by December 21 and counter comments by December 28, he added. In reply to a question that if the Department of Telecom has furnished the information sought by the regulator on the process, Prasad said.

"Information sought by TRAI in respect of these bands has been provided from time to time. TRAI has requested recently for certain additional details, which are under consideration."