The Hindu : New Delhi News : Amar Singh for CBI investigation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 30, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Amar Singh for CBI investigation

Staff Reporter

On spectrum allocation for mobiles

NEW DELHI: Raising the controversial issue of spectrum allocation for mobile telephony in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Samajwadi Party’s Member of Parliament Amar Singh demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the alleged hoarding of spectrum by some GSM operators.

“Some GSM operators who earlier got the spectrum free of cost are now hoarding it, while those who want to launch their operations are awaiting spectrum allocation for which they will have to pay crores of rupees to the government,” said Mr. Singh while making a special mention in the House.

The Samajwadi Party MP said a thorough probe was needed to expose these mobile telecom companies that were misleading the government and people by giving false statements.

These private GSM players had hoarded more than 50 MHz of airwaves as they had been allotted more than their contracted quantity of 6.2 MHz spectrum, he charged.

Govt. intervention sought

Communist Party of India(Marxist) MP Sitaram Yechury also sought the government’s intervention in the issue stating that the interests of State-run telecom companies — Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited — should also be safeguarded while allocating spectrum.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi