Kapil Sibal announces new spectrum allocation rules

Wilting under a mobile spectrum scam that apparently cost the state exchequer Rs 1.76 lakh crore, Telecom minister Kapil Sibal on Monday announced changes in the spectrum allocation policy.

He said there would be a new mobile spectrum law and licences would be renewed after ten years instead of 20 years.

He added that there would be regular audit of spectrum and criteria of spectrum allocation will be modified.

There would be review of spectrum usage too by various agencies and a panel, under retired Supreme Court judge Justice Shivraj V Patil, is being set up for a possible National Spectrum Act and a new licencing regime, he added.

Among the other new regulations and guidelines that are likely to be introduced are that spectrum would be delinked from licences and licence fee would be uniform.

Service rollout obligation norms will be modified and spectrum-sharing will be considered, permitted in certain conditions, are among the other changes being proposed.