CAG seeks info from DoT on spectrum availability and users

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), according to sources, has written to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to provide details about the spectrum for carrying out complete audit.

The CAG has also sought information about price at which the spectrum was allocated to all agencies.

DoT is the custodian of spectrum in the country. Several agencies-- like defence, space, National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)-- besides Home Ministry and telecom service providers buy spectrum bandwith from DoT.

The CAG would look into the fees paid by the agencies, departments and companies who bought spectrum and also if they are using the alloted frequencies in its true capacity.
The initiative comes in the wake of fact that spectrum is lying idle with some of the agencies as well with some private users, sources said.

The government may resort to another round of auction if spectrum was found lying idle. Auction of 3G and Broadband spectrum last year had fetched the government a revenue of over Rs 1.06 lakh crore.

All this information would help the CAG in assessing how efficiently the spectrum is being utilised.

The CAG had quantified a presumptive loss of over Rs 1.76 lakh crore due to sale of 2G spectrum in 2008 by former Telecom Minister A Raja and the matter is being investigated by various agencies.