The government today decided to refund licence fee of companies whose telecome licences stand cancelled but having no criminal charges against them. The Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram also decided to recommend to the Cabinet a one-time fee on existing telecom operators for spectrum they hold beyond 4.4 MHz. Operators wishing not to pay the additional fee would be allowed to relinquish the excess spectrum beyond 4.4 MHz. Companies willing to retain excess spectrum will have the option of making staggered payments in yearly instalments. The government is likely to get about 27 thousand crore rupees from the one-time fee.

AIR Correspondent reports that in February this year, the Supreme Court had cancelled 122 licences granted during the former Telecom Minister A Raja's regime.The government has set 14 thousand crore rupees as the base or minimum price for bidding for the auction of spectrum release from cancellation of 122 licences by the Supreme Court.