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Reserve price of spectrum expected to be lower for December auction, indicates Sibal
NEW DELHI: The reserve price for the next round of spectrum auction slated for December will be lower than last time, Communications and Information and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal has indicated.
Sibal said this in a video message on the occasion of re-branding of the Cellular Operators Association of India.
“What will be set for floor price on which telecom operators will bid will be, I think, relatively lower for them to make competitive bids,” he said.
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However, he said this would be finally decided by the inter-ministerial panel of the Telecom Commission. The Ministry will then send its views to the Empowered Group of Ministers, which will forward its recommendations to the Cabinet for the final decision.
Meanwhile, a separate Inter-Ministerial Committee formed for overseeing auction modalities has tentatively set 7-8 January 2014 to start the auctions.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had recommended nearly 62 per cent reduction in base price of premium 2G spectrum and up to 37 per cent in case of radio waves freed from the cancellation of 122 licences, compared to the amount fixed for previous auction.
The Telecom Commission has sought clarity on explanations given by TRAI to lower reserve price and the next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for 29 October.
However, COAI is still not satisfied with the pricing. “India has become a case of limited spectrum quantum availability and high reserve price per MHz of spectrum,” COAI chairman and Idea Cellular MD Himanshu Kapania said.
He said that based on the April-June quarter revenues, the Indian mobile industry has grown to an estimated Rs 1,60,000 core or $ 27 billion.
“But the nation remains a global pygmy in revenue terms – a meager 2.3 per cent of estimated the global telecom revenue of $ 1.16 trillion. This is because Indian operators have sacrificed short term gains by offering among the lowest global tariffs,” Kapania added.
He said the internet penetration in India is still at an abysmal low level of just 4.9 per cent, against China’s 17.2 per cent, Singapore’s 123.3 per cent, Japan’s 113.1 per cent, and the US’ 74.7 per cent, according to an ITU report in 2012.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
