"Public Good" Element in Spectrum Pricing Getting Recognised: Telecom Minister

The minister said that the consultation process on spectrum pricing is going on and urged the industry to take part in it and give suggestions to TRAI

The element of "public good" in spectrum pricing translating to providing greater services to poor, is getting widely recognised now, telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday. He said this in context of the earlier spectrum process, hinting that at that time, the whole exercise was seen as a resource which should maximise revenue.

Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, the minister said that the "public good" element has led to a changed thought process that seeks to strike a balance between maximising revenue and maximising services to the poor.

"Today there is a balance in thought process that between maximising revenue and providing maximising service to the poor...there has to be a balance... somewhere it should be struck. That balance is today in a consultation process in the country," he said.

Mr Vaishnaw further informed that consultation process on spectrum pricing is currently on, and urged the industry to participate in discussions and offer suggestions to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the issue.