3G auction process by weekend: Raja

Ending suspense over 3G spectrum auction, the government today said it will start the process by this weekend by issuing bid document, as all issues with the Law and the Finance ministries stand resolved.

"The Department of Telecom (DoT) will issue Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) from the potential bidders by the end of this week. All pending issues have been resolved," Telecom Minister A Raja said on the sidelines of a function here.

Asked about the date for auction of spectrum, he said, "You can take 40-45 days from the date of issuing NIA."

Going by this, the auction cannot be completed this fiscal with only 36 days remaining.

The DoT is understood to have removed the clause of any compensation to successful bidders in case spectrum was not alloted as per the committed time from the NIA, after the Law Ministry objected to this.

On the number of slots to be auctioned, sources said the DoT would go by as per the decision of the EGoM, which had agreed on allowing three private players across the nation while four private operators in some of the circles.

The government had targeted Rs 35,000 crore proceeds from the sale of spectrum in the current financial year but due to uncertainty over the number of slots and compensation clause, which has been resolved now, the auction is likely to be delayed.