(Telecompaper) The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) has approved increasing the mobile spectrum reserve price by up to 25 percent. The group agreed with the recommendation of the Telecom Commission to increase Trai's recommendation on 1800 and 900 MHz band reserve prices. The base price for 900 MHz will be set 25 percent higher than what the regulator had recommended and is now priced at INR 3.60 billion per MHz for Delhi, INR 3.28 billion for Mumbai, and INR 1.25 billion for Kolkata, PTI writes. The 1800 MHz spectrum will start at INR 17.65 billion per MHz, 15 percent higher than Trai's recommendation. Telecom minister Kapil Sibal further announced that spectrum usage charges will not be changed. Trai had proposed a flat fee of 3 percent of adjusted gross revenue but the existing regime of 3 to 8 percent, depending on spectrum holdings, will be continued. The EGoM also approved spectrum trading in principle. Trai will issue guidelines on the matter.