3G policy to be cleared by June-end

New Delhi, June 6 (UNI) The much-awaited 3G policy will be finalised by the end of this month, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Secretary D S Mathur said today.

''The 3G is likely to be finalised by June-end,'' Mr Mathur told reporters here, adding that as of now, no decision has been taken on allowing new operators in the 3G space.

While speaking at the Second Annual Telecom Regulatory Seminar, he said the Air Force was ready to vacate 42 MHz of spectrum by July.

''It is essential that sufficient spectrum should be available for continued growth of the telecom sector,'' he said.

Giving stress on spectrum sharing by mobile companies in coming years, the Secretary said the 3G platform was ready and would offer tremendous competition among the players.

On rural telephony, Mr Mathur said the Universal Service Obligation Fund would facilitate setting up of 8,000 telecom towers in the rural areas by year-end as part of the first phase of its 2010 vision of 150 million rural subscribers.

Under the plan, one lakh villages will be connected through broadband, where educational institutes, police stations and public health centres will be provided broadband internet services.

Mr Mathur said the government will come up with seven centres of excellence in collaboration with IITs and IIMs to make possible proper transfer of knowledge and technology from one level to another.

Three of the proposed centres will be functional within the current financial year, he said.

UNI