DOT denies writing any letter to PM for additional spectrum

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) The Department of Telecom (DOT) today denied reports that Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh any letter for allocation of additional spectrum to telecom operators.

An official statement said the news reports which appeared today in a section of the media stating that Mr Maran had written to the Prime Minister regarding recent allocation of additional spectrum to the telecom operators were factually incorrect and speculative.

''It is categorically stated that no such communication was sent by Mr Dayanidhi Maran to the Prime Minister. Therefore, the story is absolutely speculative and factually incorrect,'' the statement said.

Earlier, Airtel Chief Sunil Mittal had writen a letter to the Prime Minister for the release of additional spectrum for the GSM service providers.

Mr Mittal said the GSM industry is in dire need of more spectrum. ''I have no doubt that the leading wireless standard GSM will receive a fair and equitable treatment in your hands,'' he added.

Airtel is the latest among the telecom service providers who have been clamouring for more spectrum and had written letters to the Prime Minister.

Hutchison Essar Chief Asim Ghosh and Ratan Tata who has stake in CDMA provider Tata Teleservices had also written to the PM for releasing additional spectrum to support the growth of mobile telephony.

UNI/RT CS HT1632