‘Spectrum pricing: Balance needed between maximising revenue and maximising service to poor’

Hinting at a possible reduction in spectrum prices, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said with ‘public good’ element in spectrum pricing now recognised, consultation process is on in the country to strike a balance between maximising revenue and maximising services to the poor.

Addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2021, Mr. Vaishnaw, who is also the Minister for Electronics and IT, added that there was a need for a new world order to govern the impact of big tech on democracy and user safety.

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Replying to a question, the Minister said, “on the spectrum side, we as a nation and the entire society have today recognised that there is a public good element in spectrum pricing.”

“Earlier, spectrum was seen as a resource that should maximise revenue. Today, there is a balance in thought process that between maximising revenue and providing maximising service to the poor… somewhere the balance should be struck… that balance is today in a consultation process in the country.” He added that the regulatory authority would come up with the final document based on which the Centre would take a decision, “but the thought process is that we have to make it affordable. COVID made us realise the importance of telecom when everything went digital.”

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To a question on cyber safety, the Minister said, “The time has come when we should all have a new thought process… the way the United Nations came up, the way a new global order emerged in 1940s after the second world war.”