Wed Mar 05 05:57:40 UTC 2025: ## Parliamentary Committee Probes Telecom Spectrum Surrender

**New Delhi, March 5, 2025** – A parliamentary committee is investigating reports that India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) permitted telecom companies to surrender spectrum acquired before 2022. The committee, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has requested a detailed explanation from the ministry.

The inquiry stems from concerns raised in a 2015 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. The CAG criticized the DoT’s auction process for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services, highlighting deficiencies in defining spectrum usage rights for different license holders. The report specifically cited the case of Reliance Jio Infocomm (formerly Infotel), alleging that the DoT’s actions resulted in an undue advantage of ₹3,367.29 crore.

The CAG found that the DoT allowed companies like Infotel, initially licensed as an Internet Service Provider (ISP), to bid on BWA spectrum intended for other operators. Subsequently, the DoT facilitated Infotel’s migration to a Unified License, enabling it to offer voice services – a privilege the CAG deemed to have given them an unfair advantage due to the outdated pricing.

The committee’s request for a factual note from the ministry follows recent reports alleging further instances of pre-2022 spectrum surrender. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding these surrenders and determine whether any irregularities occurred.

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