The Telecom Commission (TC) has recommended an audit of the spectrum usage by the telecom operators in their respective circles. In its recommendation, TC has mentioned that if any operator is found with unused spectrum in their network during the audit, the government would take penal action against them.
The government has taken this step after Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecommunications complained that the operators were not utilising their licensed spectrum effectively.
A team comprising of WPC officials will identify the quantum of spectrum actually being used by the operators and assess their usage efficiency. Earlier, the Committee on Allocation of Natural Resources had also recommended a spectrum audit.
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A year ago, the Supreme Court of India had also ordered that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India was authorised to examine the accounts of even private companies if they were dealing with natural resources.
