The government today said the Group of Ministers (GoM) formed to decide on the base price for 3G spectrum will have its first meeting on July 31.
"The GoM on 3G will meet on July 31," Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.
Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot said, "There is no timeframe for 3G. The GoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will take its decision soon. Once, the decision is taken, the roll-out will happen."
A group of ministers has been formed to look into issues relating to 3G spectrum auction and also to decide the number of slots to be auctioned in the first phase.
The government had made a provision for Rs 35,000 crore in Budget 2009-10 from the auction of 3G and broadband wireless access spectrum.
On divestment in BSNL and TCIL, Pilot said, "We will do that once market conditions are conducive."
The finance ministry has started discussions with the Department of Telecom (DoT) for disinvestment in BSNL and TCIL in the current fiscal.
It was decided that DoT along with the Department of Disinvestment would work first towards Telecom Consultants Inida's IPO of 10 per cent and subsequently take up the BSNL issue during the fiscal keeping in mind the employees opposition issue.
