  Telecom industry body COAI has said that without seeing TRAI’s calculations and analysing them, it would be difficult to send their calculations on the possible rise in call rates following TRAI’s recommendation on spectrum auction.
The telecom operators in a sharp reaction to TRAI’s suggestions had said that it would result in 25-30% hike in call rates on pan India level and even go up to 100% in some circles.
When asked to justify the calculations Cellular Operators Association of India Director General Rajan Mathews told reporters said that they are going to review and analyse Trai's calculation.
“We are trying to find out what is their assumption and what is their calculation methodology that shows 1 or 2 paisa increase (in tariff) per minute," he said while taking to media.
“After reviewing Trai's calculation, telecom service providers will send their calculation to Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and DoT Secretary R Chandrashekhar”, he added.
"Without seeing Trai calculation, it will not be appropriate for us to send our calculation," Mathews said.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal, Vodafone Chief Executive Vittorio Colao, Idea Cellular Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Telenor CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas and a top ranked representative from Videocon may also meet Kapil Sibal on the issue, media reports suggested.
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently proposed a minimum or base price of Rs 3,622.18 crore for every mega Hertz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, where radio airwaves have been vacated following the Supreme Court’s verdict on February 2 cancelling all the 122 spectrum licences allotted in 2008 during the tenure of the former telecom minister A Raja. |