The Empowered Group of Ministers has decided to kick-start the 2G auction process with the selection of auctioneer.
The Department of Telecom will soon float the tender for this purpose. The EGoM, headed by the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, met on Tuesday to finalise the process, including the dates for holding the auction.
The Supreme Court has directed the Government to conduct the spectrum sale by August 31. But the key to this entire process is the auction policy, which is nowhere near being finalised.
The Telecom Commission, which met on Monday, could not arrive at a decision because of various concerns raised against the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
The proposals have been sent back to the regulator for clarification. According to the DoT Secretary, Mr R. Chandrashekhar, TRAI is expected to give its final views in two weeks, after which the Commission will take a decision by May-end.
The EGoM will formulate the final policy based on the Commission's recommendations.
“While the auction rules are being finalised, the EGoM is working in parallel to do some ground-work to meet the deadline set by the apex court,” said a Government official, adding that the next date for the EGoM meeting will be decided after TRAI clarifies the questions raised by the Commission.