Indian telecom sector hoping for incentives from govt
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With the coming down of tariffs in India, the profitability of the country’s top telecom firms has also come down. But the government of the country is still not dithered to budget a little more than Rs 48,000 crore from the sector for this fiscal which includes Rs 13,300 crore as license fee and spectrum charges, and Rs 35,000 crore from 3G and WiMAX auctions.
The sector will also contribute a large amount as service tax. However, Telecom companies are looking for relief from the government years besides demanding a cut in license fees and spectrum charges promising to pass on that benefit to subscribers.
At present, the government is looking to bring in a uniform license fee for all telecom services and is also looking at hiking spectrum charges and auctioning even 2G spectrums to get more revenue from telcos.
Bharti Airtel gives up CDMA spectrum in MP
The company was directed to pay the spectrum charges based on the combined GSM and CDMA spectrum allocated, which otherwise were to be charged separately
Bharti Airtel on Wednesday surrendered its CDMA spectrum in Madhya Pradesh as it was asked to pay higher charges. Bharti Airtel had acquired CDMA spectrum to provide fixed wireless services.
The company had separate licences to provide basic and cellular mobile services in the state and later got a unified licence covering the CDMA spectrum. The company then surrendered its basic licence, but Department of Telecom (DoT) asked Bharti to pay higher charges for the CDMA spectrum.
A press statement issued by Bharti says, After allowing the use of CDMA spectrum under the UAS licence, the company was forced to surrender the spectrum and was directed to pay the spectrum charges based on the combined GSM and CDMA spectrum allocated, which otherwise were to be charged separately.??? About 20,000 subscribers were provided with connections using CDMA spectrum.
The company’s request for refund of entry fee, in view of surrender of fixed line was not entertained and it has been forced to surrender the CDMA spectrum??? said the press statement. The company has appealed to the Center to clear the hurdles in providing additional 2G spectrum.
Source- http://www.indiainfoline.com
