DoT backs delinking payment method for 2G spectrum auctions

“The inter-ministerial council’s recommendations on delinking of auctioneers proposed bid structure from the reserve price may be put up to the EGoM”, a note prepared by deputy wireless advisor MK Rao has said. The EGoM tasked with the 2G spectrum auctions is scheduled to meet on Thursday to finalise the reserve price for the auctions, the roll out obligations on the operators, spectrum mortgage and the one-time levy on existing operators which was referred to it by the Cabinet. Both the pricing issues — the reserve price and the one-time levy — will then be flown back to the Cabinet for a final approval.

Furthermore, given the delay on part of the EGoM to take a call on the rollout obligations as well as the base price or the reserve price for the auction, DoT will also place a revised 2G spectrum auction timeline before the EGoM. According to which the information memorandum for the auction will be issued only on August 22, while it was earlier scheduled to be released on August 6.

The revised timeline has been prepared at the behest of the inter-ministerial council, which at its meeting on June 29 had said it wouldn’t be possible to meet the August 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court to complete the auction.

Meanwhile, on the issue of changing

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