The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) which was expected to take a decision on the reserve price of spectrum to be auctioned on June 21 is likely to meet next week.

With the pressure mounting on the government to complete the process of auction by August 31, the reports emerging from the finance ministry suggest that Pranab Mukherjee is unlikely to take part in any of the future meeting on telecom.  

The meeting of Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) which was to meet on June 21 was deferred possibly because of the dilemma in the finance ministry whether Pranab Mukherjee who is a presidential candidate should take part in the meeting or not.

Apart from the decision on base or reserve price, the EGoM was expected to deliberate if telecom companies can mortgage spectrum or airwaves for seeking loans from the banks and financial institutions.

 Trai had recommended that the reserve price for each unit of airwaves in the 1800 MHz band be set at 3,622 crore in the upcoming sale. The telecom department has proposed a 17% hike in the price proposed by Trai.

Trai was expected to make a presentation on the impact of spectrum costs on tariffs to the members of the EGoM during Thursday's meet.

Last month, the telecom ministry had asked the regulator to study the impact of high spectrum costs on consumers, mobile phone companies and government revenues, and submit its findings to the EGoM.