SEAnews 2015-02-20 ArtNo.45442

【New Delhi】Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Telecom Ministry to ensure timely implementation of the ambitious nationwide broadband project, NOFN, the progress of which would be reviewed next month.
　As part of Digital India programme, the National Optical Fibre Network aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by December 2016 and the estimated cost of the project is around Rs 30,000 crore. The NOFN is the most important component of Digital India programme as it provides the basic infrastructure for the programme. To fast-track the ambitious project, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has also warned of action against those officials who are not taking decisions on time.

○Spectrum auction may increase call charges

【New Delhi】Auction of telecom spectrum due March 4 may burn a hole in the pockets of the operators and may increase call and data charges, experts have opined.
　"This will be a very big and interesting auction. Operators whose licences are expiring will be bidding hard to secure their position," Rishi Tejpal, principal research analyst, Gartner, told IANS.
　The total spectrum put to auction is 103.75 MHz in 800 MHz band, 177.8 MHz in 900 MHz band and 99.2 MHz in 1,800 MHz band - a total of 380.75 MHz in 800, 900 and 1,800 MHz. The government will also put on sale 5 MHz in the 2,100 MHz band, which is used for 3G services in 17 out of 22 telecom areas.
　The reserve price approved is Rs.3,646 crore pan-India per MHZ in 800 MHz, Rs.3,980 crore for 900 MHz band pan-India ; and Rs.2,191 crore pan-India in 1,800 MHz band. The government also approved a reserve price of Rs.3,705 crore per megahertz for third generation services.

○BSNL, MTNL not to participate in upcoming spectrum auction

【New Delhi】State-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL will not participate in the upcoming spectrum auction, from which the government targets to raise over Rs 1 lakh crore.
　The Chairmen and Managing Directors of the two PSU's, BSNL's Anupam Srivastava and MTNL's P K Purwar, told PTI that the telecom firms will not participate in the auction. Srivastava said there is no need for additional spectrum at this point of time. The public sector firms had not participated in the previous auctions held in November 2012, March 2013 and February 2014.

【News source】

PM Narendra Modi seeks timely implementation of NOFN broadband project

Spectrum auction may increase call charges

BSNL, MTNL not to participate in upcoming spectrum auction

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