Sibal favours spectrum audit, seeks collaboration

Telecom minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said he was in favour of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG’s) proposal to conduct an audit of the spectrum available in the country with a focus on how much was allocated to private operators from 2000 onward and at what cost.

Telecom minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said he was in favour of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG’s) proposal to conduct an audit of the spectrum available in the country with a focus on how much was allocated to private operators from 2000 onward and at what cost.

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“We support spectrum sharing and audit,” he said at FICCI’s 83rd annual general meeting.

According to reports, CAG has sought details from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the total available spectrum in the country and how much has been allocated to private operators from 2000 onward and at what value.

The DoT is also conducting a study on the availability of spectrum and the quantum of allocations made to various operators and government agencies.

Referring to the tussle between operators on spectrum allocation, Sibal said that instead of exchanging heated words, telcom companies should instead work together for the further growth of the sector: “There should be corporate collaboration, not corporate rivalry.”