The Cabinet on Wednesday approved spectrum usage charge (SUC) at the rate of 3 percent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) for the telecom spectrum auction, an official said.
"Spectrum acquired in forthcoming auction in 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 and 2500MHz band is to be charged at the rate of 3 percent of adjusted gross revenue, excluding the revenue from wire-line services," an official statement said. 6a6r4f
The Telecom Commission - the highest decision-making authority in telecom policy - had set 3 percent rate for SUC last week and had sent the decision for Cabinet approval.
(Also see: Trai Recommends Flat Spectrum Usage Charge)
"The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Department of Telecommunications," the statement said.
The next round of spectrum auction is expected to take place in September.
The statement said the government decision will facilitate the shift to a simple, transparent and flat ad-valorem SUC regime in accordance with the law and avoid creative ing to by the revenues.
"The weighted average of SUC rates across all spectrum assigned to an operator (whether assigned istratively or through auction or through trading) in all access spectrum bands, including BWA spectrum obtained in 2010 auction, shall be applied for charging SUC subject to a minimum of 3 percent of the AGR, excluding revenues from wire-line services," the statement said.
The government gets around Rs. 7,000 crores every year from SUC.
The government is expecting to mop up around Rs. 5.66 lakh crores from the biggest-ever telecom airwaves auction of 2300MHz.