Govt promise of spectrum price reforms a big relief for industry: COAI

The government’s assurance on undertaking reforms in the spectrum pricing will spell a “big relief” for telecom companies, industry body COAI said on Monday.

Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI that if there is adequate spectrum and the price is right, “operators will be interested to see if it makes sense to participate in upcoming auctions”.

Terming spectrum as “life blood” of the industry, Mathews said Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s promise of undertaking reforms in the spectrum pricing spells a big relief for the sector.

Telecom operators had earlier rued that spectrum prices being considered by the government for the forthcoming spectrum auction are exorbitant, and has been seeking a review of the rates.