Auction action: Rs.61,091.83 crore spectrum bids received

The government has received cumulative bids of Rs.61,091.83 crore for the second generation (2G) spectrum or airwaves auction. A total of 63 rounds of bidding were completed Wednesday.

Eight mobile phone service providers are participating in the auction that began Feb 3 for 46 MHz in 900 MHz band and 385 MHz in 1,800 MHz band.

At the end of the ninth day of bidding Wednesday, data released by the department of telecom showed the 1,800 MHz band received bids in all 22 circles while the 900 MHz band got bids in all three circles which are up for auction.

The highest demand in 900 MHz was from the Kolkata circle whereas in 1,800 MHz, the same was seen in the Assam and Madhya Pradesh circles.

There was Rs.23,589.62 crore bids in the 900 MHz auction and Rs.37,502.21 crore in 1,800 MHz.

The service providers taking part are Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Telewings, Aircel, Tata Teleservices and Idea Cellular.

Bharti Airtel's 20-year licence is going to expire in Delhi and Kolkata circles and Vodafone India's 20-year licences in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles are getting over in November this year.

The total spectrum on offer is 46 MHz in 900 MHz band (only Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata) and 385 MHz in 1,800 MHz band (all 22 circles) simultaneously. The government has targeted to mop up Rs.40,874.50 crore from the spectrum auction in 2013-14.

The auctioning of airwaves is done to obtain a market determined price of the spectrum. This auction does not have any last date. It will go on every week from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. till the time telecom service providers keep bidding.

The service providers will bid using fixed Internet Protocols (IP) as dynamic IP addresses are not allowed.

The objectives of the auctions are to obtain a market determined price of spectrum in 1,800 MHz and 900 MHz bands through a transparent process, ensure efficient use of spectrum and avoid hoarding, stimulate competition in the sector, promote rollout of the respective services and maximise revenue proceeds from the auctions within the set parameters.

Times Internet Limited and e-Procurement Technologies Limited are advising the government on the auction. Administration of the e-auction is the responsibility of e-Procurement Technologies Limited.