The inter-ministerial group constituted to suggest measures to ease the financial stress in the telecom sector is likely to meet on Friday, according to two officials.
The officials familiar with the working of the group said while there is uniformity of views among members on some of the issues, one of the proposals that is still being debated is easing of spectrum cap within a particular band (currently pegged at 50 per cent) in case of mergers and acquisitions.
“The question is that in case the spectrum cap within a band is relaxed, a company can have unlimited holding in that band. So what happens to competitionIJ No view has been taken on the issue yet,” one of the officials said.
Both the officials said the IMG is likely to meet on Friday to discuss multiple proposals.
The group last met on August 11 and deliberated on various measures that can be taken to address the financial woes of the industry.
The inter-ministerial panel is learnt to be favourably considering certain measures, including increasing period of deferred spectrum payment to 16 years, a proposal that would improve the cash flow of telecom companies.
The final recommendations of the group will be placed before the Telecom Commission and ultimately before the Cabinet.