| The GoM will also not provide any incentives to CDMA operators for efficient spectrum utilisation. |
| This is because Minister for Communications and IT Dayanidhi Maran has made changes to the terms of reference for the GoM, comprising Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia. |
| Sources said Maran had deleted the clause which stated that the GoM "will suggest guidelines to encourage and incentivise introduction of spectrum efficient technologies". |
| The removal of this clause comes even as the defence ministry, in a recent presentation, informed the DoT that "the equipment deployed by operators were among the lowest in the world (in terms of spectrum-efficiency)," while adding that "spectrum-efficient technologies must be encouraged as it will improve the quality of service and availability of spectrum". |
| Earlier, Maran had severely opposed the setting up of a group of ministers to resolve all issues related to allocation of spectrum to telecom operators and its vacation by the defence services. |
| In another change to the terms and conditions, Maran had added that the GoM "should" aim at generating the sources of the spectrum allocation fund to fully affect the cost of vacation of spectrum. The earlier terms said the spectrum pricing policy "may" aim at revenue to offset the cost of vacation. |
| The DoT owes the defence ministry over Rs 1,200 crore as unpaid dues for vacating spectrum. |
| Maran has also said the GoM will determine the quantum of additional minimum and optimum requirement and identify frequency bands for mobile services,and for all wireless services in telecom and broadcasting. |
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