New Delhi: The government is confidant of raising around Rs 90,000 crore in the next three years through auction of telecom spectrum, in line with its proposal to sell airwaves at market-linked prices.
As per the Union Budget proposals presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament on Friday, "...Rs 40,000 crore (of non tax revenue) is estimated to be from telecom spectrum auction in 2012-13."
Another Rs 25,000 crore of non-tax revenue is estimated from telecom spectrum in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, it added.
"We will try to manage our resources to meet this target and we may probably get more from the auction," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told.
The Budget has proposed to raise a total non-tax revenue of Rs 58,217 crore in 2012-13 from 'other communication services', as against just Rs 16,550.83 crore in 2011-12. These would also include receipts from spectrum held in excess of 6.2 MHz and receipts from auction of spectrum available with government, including spectrum to be vacated by 122 licenses, in view of the order of the Supreme Court.
Official auditor Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report last year had pointed out a loss of Rs 36,993 crore to the exchequer because of the excess spectrum held by the telecom operators.
The Supreme Court, in its February 2 order, had quashed 122 2G mobile phone licences given in 2008 under the then telecom minister A Raja terming them illegal. The apex court had also asked the government to conduct fresh auctions within four months of the order.
For the next fiscal, the government also aims to raise funds in form of licence fee from telecom operators, receipts on account of spectrum, usage charges and auction of Broadband Wireless Access spectrum currently in use by Central PSUs.
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