It’s 2G After All
Apropos your news item ‘Diwali Fails to Light Up 2G Auctions’, edit ‘RIP, 2G Scam’ and T K Arun’s ‘After the 2G Auction Flop’ (ET, Nov 15), I wish to make three points. First, telecom spectrum must not be treated as a common commodity: it is a limited natural resource, limited by the present stage of knowledge. Second, the method of ‘distribution’ of this resource among users would have to depend on the situation prevailing on each occasion; if needed, the Hon’ble court could be approached to partially modify its earlier decision on the subject. Lastly, it seems that government authorities, including, inter alia, the Trai, need to appreciate the limited value of 3G for the common citizen: it might not be able to replace 2G technology. At today’s technological level, 3G would not, strictly speaking, qualify as a new technology: it could be an enlarged high-speed data facility.
N K MATHUR New Delhi, November 15
Diwali Gift
The failed spectrum auction is good news for both the government and the public. While the government can relax and smile on its earlier decision, CAG’s conclusion would also be looked at with suspicion. For the common citizen, this would be a Diwali gift, where she can expect telecom prices to remain lower than what they would have been had the auction seen high bids. Why do we always need to think about filling government coffers?
VINAY SINGHAL Gurgaon, November 15
Apropos your news item ‘Diwali Fails to Light Up 2G Auctions’, edit ‘RIP, 2G Scam’ and T K Arun’s ‘After the 2G Auction Flop’ (ET, Nov 15), I wish to make three points. First, telecom spectrum must not be treated as a common commodity: it is a limited natural resource, limited by the present stage of knowledge. Second, the method of ‘distribution’ of this resource among users would have to depend on the situation prevailing on each occasion; if needed, the Hon’ble court could be approached to partially modify its earlier decision on the subject. Lastly, it seems that government authorities, including, inter alia, the Trai, need to appreciate the limited value of 3G for the common citizen: it might not be able to replace 2G technology. At today’s technological level, 3G would not, strictly speaking, qualify as a new technology: it could be an enlarged high-speed data facility.
N K MATHUR New Delhi, November 15
Diwali Gift
The failed spectrum auction is good news for both the government and the public. While the government can relax and smile on its earlier decision, CAG’s conclusion would also be looked at with suspicion. For the common citizen, this would be a Diwali gift, where she can expect telecom prices to remain lower than what they would have been had the auction seen high bids. Why do we always need to think about filling government coffers?
VINAY SINGHAL Gurgaon, November 15
