Digital Communications Commission to discuss charging of spectrum fees on usage basis

The Digital Communications Commission (DCC), formerly Telecom Commission, is likely to discuss on Tuesday a methodology to charge spectrum fees on the basis of usage.

The decision will also cover crucial backhaul spectrum in E and V bands that can be used for connecting mobile towers at short distances and transmitting data between them.

"DCC is likely to discuss on charging fees or one-time payment of spectrum that is allocated to organisations for various purposes. It is likely to be determined based on four categories," an official source told PTI.

A committee under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been working on classification of spectrum allocated to various organisations and how they should be charged in compliance with the Supreme Court order dated February 2, 2012, in which the court annulled 122 telecom licences.

Radiowaves used for transmitting signals to mobile phones are referred to as the access spectrum, while backhaul spectrum augments signals between ...