Pilot assures spectrum allocation on schedule

After the successful 3G spectrum auction, the centre is planning to offer radiowaves to private operators from next month, union minister of state for communications and IT Sachin Pilot told journalists in New Delhi yesterday. He was speaking at an Assocham seminar in the capital.

He added a mechanism to counter the nuisance of unsolicited telemarketing calls and SMS messages would be put in place.

''After September 1, 2010, 3G spectrum allocation will take place and services will be rolled out thereafter,'' Pilot said, to allay fears of industry as well as telecom users over reports saying the defence establishment was yet to vacate spectrum.

Notably, the government had been able to net over Rs67,000 crore in the 3G spectrum auction which saw fierce competition between seven operators including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Tata Tele and RCom have bagged 3G spectrum.

While referring the growing problem of unsolicited calls and SMS messages by telemarketers, Pilot said it had assumed menacing proportions in India which does not happen anywhere else in the world.

''Telecom operators and service providers had been categorically asked to stop the increasing menace of sending unsolicited calls and SMS. Department of telecommunications and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have already held necessary consultations to put a complete ban to such calls,'' he said.

Meanwhile, in May TRAI had floated a consultation paper on curbing such commercial calls and messages.