New Delhi, Oct 30: The group of ministers on telecom today paved the way for a unified licencing regime, a major beneficiary of which would be reliance whose limited mobile services had triggered a conflict between cellular and basic operators. The recommendation of the GoM for combining the licences of basic and cellular operators as also levy of additional fee for WLL services as directed by TDSAT would be considered by the union cabinet tomorrow for a final decision.
"The GoM has accepted the TRAI recommendations on unified licence and fee to be charged for WLL operators in toto. A cabinet note in this regard shall be prepared tonight to be placed before the cabinet tomorrow," Communications and IT Minister Arun Shourie told reporters after the final meeting of the GoM.
With the decision, Reliance Infocomm would be required to pay about Rs 1581 crore for migrating to a unified regime which includes Rs 1096 crore towards migration fee and Rs 485 crore as penalty as recommended by TRAI for offering cellular type fully mobile services, the minister said.
After unification, requirement of additional spectrum for new services would be done on payment as per the guidelines from TRAI, he said.
Shourie also said government had filed a caveat in various high courts apprehending a possible move for a stay by cellular operators.
Cellular operators have already moved the Supreme Court challenging TDSAT's order which had permitted WLL service to basic operators.
Bureau Report