Department of Telecommunication (DoT) directed telecom regulators to conduct an audit of spectrum to ensure that it is used efficiently.
The CAG has raised serious questions on effective utilisation of spectrum. It found a wide variation in spectrum usage by various service providers.
The report said that inefficient utilisation of spectrum has resulted in lower license fees which has adversely affected the telecom revenue. It also directed DoT to take effective actions in use of air waves. This issue was also raised by one-man committee appointed by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will start the process of regular auditing. TRAI has been made responsible to undertake the auditing process. The CAG found that while one service provider is catering to 91 lakh mobile subscribers with 10 Mhz of spectrum, and the other about 26 lakh with 12.4 Mhz spectrum.
Mobile operators are in view that government should focus on promoting effective usage of spectrum rather than penalising them.
