Here is what we know about the upcoming spectrum auction

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The spectrum auction is slated to begin on June 6 and telecom giants Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have reportedly thrown their hats in the ring.

“Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have submitted applications for spectrum auction,” PTI quoted an official source as saying. The auction, with a base price of approximately ₹96,317 crore, will have all the available spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 2,500 MHz, 3,300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands as part of the auction.

Successful bidders will be granted spectrum rights for 20 years, with provisions allowing for payments to be made in 20 equal annual instalments. Moreover, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced a measure permitting bidders to relinquish acquired spectrum after a minimum tenure of 10 years.

Ahead of the auction, the DoT is set to unveil the ownership details of all applicants on May 10, shedding light on the industry landscape and the contenders in the fray. The window for withdrawal of applications is scheduled to close on May 17, paving the way for the final list of bidders to be unveiled on May 20.

During India’s first 5G auction in July 2022, the government successfully garnered over ₹1.5 lakh crore in revenue. This historic sale encompassed the allocation of more than 72 GHz of airwaves for a 20-year term, spanning across 10 5G bands. The total worth of these airwaves at reserve prices amounted to a staggering ₹4.3 lakh crore.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow