eight bands The auction of spectrum worth more than Rs 96,000 crore in the country will begin on Tuesday (June 25). Telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are eyeing to acquire these important radio waves for 5G mobile services. The last spectrum auction was held in August 2022, in which radio waves were included for 5G services for the first time. The government will auction eight spectrum bands for mobile phone services at a base price of about Rs 96,317 crore.
These megahertz are available for auction
It is worth noting that all the spectrum available in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands are part of the 10th auction. Bharat Bhatia, President, ITU-APT Foundation of India, said, “We welcome the government’s move to auction radio frequencies in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands. However, spectrum in 600 MHz and 1400 MHz should also be auctioned soon, as these bands are very important for the mobile industry.”
Jio deposited the most money
Reliance Jio has deposited the highest earnest money of Rs 3,000 crore for the spectrum auction. On this basis, the company can bid for maximum radio waves. According to the Department of Telecommunications, Bharti Airtel has deposited Rs 1,050 crore and Vodafone Idea (VIL) has deposited Rs 300 crore as earnest money. Telecom expert Parag Kar said that on the basis of earnest money, Reliance Jio can bid for 37.36 percent of the total spectrum value, Bharti 13.07 percent and Vodafone Idea 3.73 percent.
Debt-ridden Idea will also bid
He said Jio may be keen to bid only for the 800 MHz band. “Bharti’s aim in the upcoming auction is to strengthen and enhance its spectrum efficiency. Bharti may have to pay Rs 11,512 crore at the reserve price,” Kar said in his blog. Debt-ridden Vodafone Idea Ltd may focus on strategic acquisitions, especially in the 26 GHz band, to reduce its spectrum usage charges.
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