EGoM meet on spectrum is deferred

The much-awaited meeting of the high-power ministerial panel on auction of telecom spectrum on Thursday was deferred indefinitely, official sources said.

The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, was slated to discuss crucial issues of high spectrum price recommended by TRAI, payment terms and network roll-out obligations for auction of airwaves due before August 31.

For the first time, the EGoM was to discuss loan against airwaves.

Sources said, “Mr. Mukherjee feels that since he is entering the Presidential race and he will be resigning as Minister within a week, he doesn’t want to sit on a judgment on such an important issue.”