EGoM on Telecom for imposing one-time fee on mobile operators with spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz

The Empowered Group of Ministers on Telecom, headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, has decided to impose a one-time fee on mobile operators holding spectrum beyond 6.2 Mega Hertz. The decision is expected to fetch over 3,000 crore rupees to exchequer.

This will be in excess of 27,000 crore rupees surcharge that the EGoM had last week decided to impose on GSM carriers having spectrum in excess of 4.4 Mega Hertz and CDMA operators with 2.5 Mega Hertz airwaves.

A final decision on the matter will be taken by the Cabinet. The incumbent companies will now have to shell out 30,000 crore rupees if the Cabinet accepts the revised recommendations of the EGoM.

Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said, the EGoM deferred a decision on the spectrum refarming issue as there was not enough time.