EGoM to seek further extension of spectrum auction deadline
07 Aug 2012
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on telecom will approach the Supreme Court to seek the extension of 31 August deadline to complete the auction of 2G airwaves and would look at starting the auction process by November.
''Auctioneer has given us schedule...we will approach the Supreme Court to place before them what the government has done. Also, place before them that in terms of this schedule, it is not possible to conduct the auction by August 31,'' telecom minister Kapil Sibal said after the EGoM meet.
The EGoM, headed by finance minister P Chidambaram, discussed the sale at a meeting in New Delhi today.
''As you know, licences have been extended till September 7. So we will go back to the Supreme Court with an interim application and request to consider the fact as stated in the application,'' Sibal added.
After cancelling 122 telecom licences in February, the Supreme Court had asked the government to complete the 2G spectrum auction by 31 August. It had extended the validity of quashed licences till 7 September.
The spectrum auction is crucial for companies such as Sistema Shyam, Uninor and Videocon to win the auction for being able to continue the operations.
