Will announce with 2G pricing recommendations by Dec-end: Trai

Amid a controversy over pricing of telecom radiowaves, sectoral regulator Trai today said it will come out with recommendations on a new mechanism linking 2G spectrum prices to the winning bids received under the recent auction of 3G licences by the end of this month.

Amid a controversy over pricing of telecom radiowaves, sectoral regulator Trai on Friday said it will come out with recommendations on a new mechanism linking 2G spectrum prices to the winning bids received under the recent auction of 3G licences by the end of this month.

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"The 2G pricing recommendations are expected to come by this month-end," Trai Chairman J S Sarma told reporters.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had floated the proposal for linking 2G spectrum prices with 3G rates in May this year.

However, due to stiff opposition from existing GSM service providers, TRAI had said it would study the issue of linking 2G and 3G prices afresh before finalising the proposal.

The regulator came out with the proposal after the auction for third-generation (3G) airwaves earlier this year raked in over Rs 67,000 crore for the government.

Trai's earlier recommendations included levying a one-time charge on operators holding excess 2G spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz.