Compensation to BSNL for 3G?

 
NEW DELHI: The Centre may refund a significant portion of what BSNL will pay for both third generation (3G) and broadband wireless spectrum in a
bid to stabilise the financials of the state-owned telco. If refund option is unviable, the government may examine the possibility of permitting BSNL to defer payment for these airwaves until the telco completes its restructuring process, a person familiar with the development told ET.

This will give BSNL a 24-month window to pay for the airwaves, unlike private operators which have only have a 10-day period to cough up the bid amount.

BSNL, it is learnt, is yet to make a formal request but has held informal discussions with the communications ministry on this, two officials with direct knowledge of the development said. Any concessions to BSNL will be strongly opposed by private telcos, which, in the past, have even taken the government to court for bending the rules to aid the state-owned operator. Government-may-compensate-BSNL-for-3G-wireless-broadband