Preparation for 3G auction to start next week

The telecom department has sent a letter of intent to NM Rothschild.

Work on preparing the framework for the much-awaited auction of third generation (3G) spectrum is scheduled to start next week.

Earlier this month, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had selected NM Rothschild to conduct the auction of 3G and broadband wireless access spectrum.

“We have already sent a letter of intent to Rothschild, which will conduct these auctions. The process of designing the structure for these auctions will start from October 20,” said a DoT official.

“The process should take about a month, so by November the pattern on which the auctions will be conducted will be in place and the actual bidding process will start by December,” he added.

There have been reports of a possible delay in the auction of 3G spectrum. The DoT is under pressure from the finance ministry, which has been expressing concern over the delay in the start of the auction process. The finance minister is likely to meet DoT officials later this week.

“There will be no delay in the auction process. It will be completed by December 31,” said the official, echoing yesterday’s statement by the Union Comunications and Information Technology Minister A Raja.

The DoT official said the contentious issue of segregation of revenues from 2G and 3G services would be resolved before the auction process.

“The standing committee formed to look into the issue will submit its report by the end of this month. The committee has met both GSM and CDMA players, so all matters around this issue will be resolved before the bidding begins,” he said.