Spectrum auction concludes; response better than expected

Total bids for Rs 77,814.80 crore, Total quantity of spectrum for which right to use acquired is 855.60 MHz

GN Bureau | March 2, 2021


#department of telecommunications   #auction   #specturm   #Telecom   #DoT   #ministry of communications  
(Illustration: Ashish Asthana)
(Illustration: Ashish Asthana)

India on Tuesday concluded the spectrum auction after a total of six rounds of bidding. The authorities described the response as better than expected, with total bids valued at Rs 77,814.80 crore. The quality of service and customer experience is expected to improve with deployment of additional spectrum acquired in networks of telecom service providers.

“The value of the spectrum for which there are winning bids is Rs 77,814.80 crore. Hence, incremental bids for Rs 668.20 crore were made today,” said Anshu Prakash, secretary, department of telecommunications, ministry of communications. Tuesday was the second and concluding day of the spectrum auction 2021. The e-auction was based on Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending Auction (SMRA) methodology.

The secretary said that the bidding took place for spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 MHz bands. The total quantity of spectrum for which right to use has been acquired in these bands is 855.60 MHz. The participants did not bid in 700 MHz and 2500 MHz bands. Four rounds of bidding (two each with stipulated activity levels of 80% and 90%) took place on Monday and two rounds of bidding with stipulated activity level of 100% took place Tuesday.

Three bidders – Bharti Airtel Ltd, Vodafone Idea Ltd, and Reliance JioInfocommLtd – participated in the auction. Bidder-wise details of quantity of spectrum acquired and amounts payable are as follows:
Bharti Airtel Ltd: Total quantity: 355.45 MHz, Total amount: Rs 18,698.75 crore
Vodafone Idea Ltd: Total quantity 11.80 MHz, Total amount: Rs 1,993.40 crore
Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd: 488.35 MHz, Total amount: Rs 57,122.65 crore

A total quantity of 2308.80 MHz spectrum was put to auction, including spectrum that is expiring up to December, 2021. Of this quantity, bids were received for855.60MHz of spectrum. Excluding spectrum in 700MHz and 2500MHz bands, this is about 60% of the spectrum put to auction. In the 2016 spectrum auction, where there were 7 bidders, the spectrum sold was 41% by quantity and 12% by value of the total spectrum put to auction. The corresponding figures in the 2021 spectrum auction are 37% and 19% respectively, with three participants.

Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) for the spectrum acquired in this auction will be payable at the rate of 3% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of the licensee, excluding revenue from wireline services. The auction is concluded and these provisional results are subject to scrutiny and approval by the Government.

With the deployment of additional spectrum acquired in this auction in the networks of telecom service providers, the quality of service and customer experience of telecom consumers across the country are expected to improve.
 

Comments

 

Other News

Operation Sindoor combined hard power with diplomatic finesse

Since guns have fallen silent in India and Pakistan following their ceasefire after four days of conflict, attention has now shifted to New Delhi’s next steps. The Indian government, as per media reports, is considering sending a multi-party delegation to several countries to engage with foreign gove

Rajnath Singh calls upon IMF to reconsider financial assistance to Pakistan

Stating that Pakistan has again started to rebuild its terror infrastructure destroyed by India, defence minister Rajnath Singh called upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its one-billion-dollar assistance to Islamabad and refrain from providing any support in future as well.

12 of Maharashtra`s 48 govt departments rated top performers

Maharashtra`s Home and Mining departments, headed by ACS and ex BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, are among the 12 top performing departments scoring 100% objectives set out for the respective department. After the formation of Mahayuti government, in a first of its kind exercise chief mi

Cabinet approves semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh

The union cabinet chaired by the prime minister on Wednesday approved the establishment of one more semiconductor unit under India Semiconductor Mission. There are already five semiconductor units in advanced stages of construction. With this sixth unit, India moves forward in its journey to

"Operation Sindoor a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism"

Prime minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation Monday evening. Here is the approximate English translation of the speech delivered in Hindi, according to an official release: My dear countrymen, Namaskar! In the past days, we all have witnessed both the strength a

Maharashtra, defence forces to enhance coordination

In response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, a high-level strategic meeting was convened at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence, Varsha, on Monday to bolster security measures and enhance coordination between the Maharashtra government and the defence forces.

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now



Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter