The 3G spectrum allocation process is likely to get further delayed as the Union Government has announced to form a Group of Ministers (GoM) to sort out controversial pricing issue and number of players per telecom circle.

The GoM would be represented by Defence Minister A. K. Antony, Law Minister H. R. Bhardwaj, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anand Sharma, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Communications and Information Technology Minister A. Raja, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Chemical and Fertilizers and Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and the vice-chairman of planning commission, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

It should be recalled that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs could not sort out the pricing issue and the government has to form GoM under the Department of Telecom (DoT) for early solution of complications concerned in the 3G allocation.

DoT has earlier recommended Rs 2,020 crore as the base price for pan-India 3G spectrum and Rs 1,010 crore for roll out of WiMax services. However, the Finance Ministry wants double price of Rs 4,040 crore and Rs 2,020 crore for both services.