GOM on 3G likely to be set up this week

New Delhi, Feb 17 (ANI): Union Minister for Communications and IT A. Raja on Tuesday said that a Group of Ministers (GoM) for 3G spectrum auction may be set up this week, and hoped the process would start before March 31.

According to Raja, the GoM would sort out the number of slots and base price issues in 3G-spectrum.

"The GoM is likely to be constituted this week. We have time to go for auction. A policy decision on the auction was announced much earlier, so the election code of conduct will not be a hindrance," Raja said.

The Interim Budget proposed by the Central Government mentioned that the auction would take place next fiscal and there is an expectation that Rs. 20,000 crore would be generated from it.

The Minister rejected the notion that the election notification would act as a hindrance for 3G auction.

"The election notification is not going to be a hindrance anyway. We have time till March 31 this financial year. I do believe there are chances of completing the process before March 31," he added.

The 3G radio waves auction has seen much dispute between the finance and telecom ministries. After the DoT announced Rs 2,020 crore as base price for an all-India 3G licence, the MoF wanted that to be doubled. (ANI)