Next telecom spectrum auction in 2-3 months: Prasad

The next round of telecom spectrum auction, which is expected to mop up a whopping Rs.560,000 crore ($83 billion) will take place in another two-three months, Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here on Friday.

"We have cleared spectrum trading and sharing. Therefore, issues regarding spectrum have been addressed. In the coming two-three months, 2,000 MHz of spectrum will be auctioned," Prasad said in his address at the 9th Telecom India Summit organised by Assocham.

Earlier, industry stakeholders were expecting the auction - entailing bidding for bands 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz - to take place in June.

The minister reiterated that telecom service providers (TSP) need to improve the quality of its services and the customers should be happy.

"The telecom operators should provide good service and quality service to the people. I only want people to be satisfied," he said.

On Bharti Airtel, a day after the apex court waived call drop penalties from the service providers on May 11, announcing a 25 percent more stringent voluntary call drop benchmark, Prasad said: "Customers should be happy... I don't understand self regulation!"

"It is in your interest to give quality services to the customers. Quest for quality services will always rise," he told the telecom firms.

--IANS

ag/vd