The Communications Minister or for that matter the UPA Government will bend to any extent to help the private telecom operators. It is what is going to happen with the 3G roaming services.
The 3G Spectrum was allotted by circle-wise auctions on the premises that the company which auctions for a particular circle can provide 3G in that circle alone. Most of the private telecom companies auctioned for their choice circles. BSNL even without being given a chance to auction was asked to pay the maximum auction amount for all circles.
The conspiracy has now been exposed. All these private companies are providing 3G services in all the circles by making roaming agreements between them. Without paying the charges for 3G Spectrum in all the circles, they are providing the services. At the same time BSNL has been compelled to pay the full charges.This is completely against the auction rules and is cheating the government.
The TRAI has recommended to take action against these companies for violation of licence agreements, but the DOT is keeping mum, because the government don’t want any action against its favourite private companies.
And in the Draft NTP-2011, it is proposed to allow spectrum sharing which these private companies have already done. The Government is making illegal to legal to help these private companies.
And putting BSNL in to lurch which was compelled to pay for all circles.