India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed a Spectrum Act that’s aims to give powers to the authorities to withdraw or cancel unused spectrum given to the telecom operators in the country.

DoT has set up a committee to frame the proposed Act to review and analyze the existing laws governing spectrum management and to formulate a new comprehensive and integrated Act, said a note from the regulator.

“The Spectrum Act will give the authority to withdraw or cancel spectrum assigned but not in use, during the course of regular monitoring,” the note said.

The plans for the Act come after controversies related to the allocation of spectrum to new operators in 2008 at a price determined in 2001. The allocations caused billions of rupees in losses to the government.

The new Act aims to maximise efficient allocation and use of spectrum and will also provide a flexible approach to meeting the needs of the users of spectrum. The Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) over sees assigns, plans and regulates spectrum. However, the note said that due toe absence of a comprehensive legislation, the WPC wing has relied increasingly on the mechanism of administrative decisions.