Spectrum auction garners bids worth Rs 94,000 cr

The government has garnered Rs 94,000 crore worth of bids from telecom players at the end of five days of spectrum auction today.
"The bidding has taken place in all bands. At present, a value of approximately Rs 94,000 crore has been committed by bidders in respect of provisionally won spectrum. There is still spectrum, which is yet to be sold. Bidding would recommence tomorrow," the Department of Telecom (DoT) said.
Seven rounds of bidding were completed today and till now 31 rounds of bidding has taken place, the DoT added.
The government on Saturday had crossed the targeted minimum amount of Rs 82,000 crore from sale of 2G and 3G airwaves. At the end of 24 rounds of bidding on Saturday, the value stood at Rs 86,000 crore.

If bidding continues at robust pace, the government is likely to rake in over Rs 1 lakh crore from spectrum sale.
The government will not release results of the auction as a case in pending before the Supreme Court. The next hearing on the case is on March 26.

In 800 Mhz band, there was excess demand in three circles-- Andhra Pradesh, Assam and North East-- at the end of round 31, whereas 1,800 Mhz band saw good activity with excess demand in Kolkata.
Incumbents Bharti Airtel and Vodafone are locked with Reliance Jio to protect their spectrum they need to carry voice and data in the world's second-biggest smartphone market. In all, eight bidders are in the fray.

The auction is the biggest ever sale of 2G and 3G airwaves where government is selling spectrum in four bands: 2,100 megahertz (Mhz), 1,800 MHz, 900 MHz and 800 MHz.
There was no bidding in Mumbai, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh in 2100 MHz band till now.
A total of 380.75 MHz of spectrum is on offer in the premium 900 MHz band, 1,800 MHz and 800 MHz, while 5 MHz is up for bidding in the 2,100 MHz band across 17 out of 22 telecom areas or circles in the country.
Most of the spectrum put up for auction is at present held by Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Telecom. Their licences are expiring in 2015-16.

Mobile licences for nine circles of Idea Cellular, six circles of Airtel and seven circles each of Vodafone and Reliance Telecom are coming up for renewal.
The 3G and BWA auction together fetched the government over Rs 1.05 lakh crore in 2010. The government had raked in Rs 62,162 crore from the last spectrum auction held in February 2014.