The apex policymaking body of the Department of Telecom (DoT) meets in Delhi on Friday to decide on key issues relating to licencing shortly before 2G spectrum auctions are to be held.
The Telecom Commission meeting tomorrow will consider critical licencing issues, which will set the rules for granting of licences in the future. On the agenda is whether the present system of granting licences for each of 22 telecom circles should be continued or should the DoT award national as well as district level licences.
The telecom licences to be issued in future will be unified licences and spectrum will not be bundled alongwith. Companies will have to bid for spectrum separately.
NDTV learns that the issue of bringing telecom tower companies within the fold of the licence is also expected to be discussed at the meeting. But a final decision on the issue is yet elusive because the Telecom Commission feels a decision could have larger implications. Licencing of telecom tower companies will mean bringing down the cap for foreign direct investment from 100 per cent now to 74 per cent.
The Commission is expected to approve issues that will have an immediate impact on the upcoming spectrum auction, scheduled to begin on November 12.
Issues like entry fee, ownership norms, including crossholding norms, application procedure are likely to be cleared by the Telecom Commission.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
