BWA winners pay, Centre rejects BSNL bid for time

Jun 23, 2010 |

New Delhi

The government today received Rs 30,229.51 crore as fee towards broadband wireless spectrum from all successful bidders, with Mukesh Ambani-led RIL’s internet arm Infotel alone coughing up Rs 12,847.77 crore.

State-owned BSNL is yet to pay the dues amounting to Rs 8,313.80 crore and no explanation, either from the corporation or from the government was forthcoming. DoT officials said there was no information from the PSU. The government has also confirmed that no exemption has been given to either of the two telecom PSUs from paying for 3G and BWA spectrum.
Official sources confirmed having received payment from all the other players on the last day for payment on Tuesday.
BSNL, sources said, had asked for exemption from paying for the spectrum but the same was rejected by the government.
With Tuesday’s collection, the government has received Rs 97,948.46 crore from the sale of spectrum for both 3G and BWA.
The total collection would go up to Rs 106,262.26 crore once BSNL pays its dues. The spectrum auction for 3G had yielded Rs 67,718.95 crore.
Besides Infotel, Bharti Airtel paid Rs 3,314.36 crore, Qualcomm Rs 4,912.54 crore, MTNL Rs 4533.97 crore and Aircel Rs 3,438.01 crore. Infotel had emerged as the only pan-India winner for BWA spectrum in the auction that concluded on June 11.
Within hours of ending of the BWA auction, Mukesh Ambani-led RIL had announced that it will acquire Infotel for Rs 4,800 crore. — PTI

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