The Telecom Commission is likely to meet after 2-3 days, probably later this week, to deliberate on spectrum usage charge (SUC) after it failed to arrive at any conclusion on Tuesday.

 

A senior official told TelecomTiger that the matter needs more discussions and it might take another few days.

 

"Telecom Commission deliberated on spectrum usage charge but it needs further discussions. we are discussing number of options”, he said.

 

Under the current system, the government levies between 3% and 8% of telecom operators' revenue as spectrum usage charge, depending on the quantity of airwaves held by them.

 

This annual fee is currently 1 percent for firms broadband wireless spectrum including Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) and Tikona.

 

The Regulator recommended implementation of 3 percent uniform spectrum usage charge across telecom industry with effect from April 1, 2014.

Last month in the joint letter Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal, Vodafone India CEO Marten Pieters, Idea Cellular Managing Director Himanshu Kapania, Uninor CEO Sigve Brekke have demanded a more level-playing field in this matter.