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Spectrum Auction Garners Bids Worth Rs. 86,000 Crores at the End of Day 4

Spectrum Auction Garners Bids Worth Rs. 86,000 Crores at the End of Day 4

By Press Trust of India | Updated: 9 March 2015 10:29 IST

Government has got commitments of Rs. 86,000 crores from telecom players at the end of fourth day of spectrum auction - crossing the targeted minimum amount of Rs. 82,000 crores from the ongoing sale of 2G and 3G airwaves.

The auction will resume on Monday morning as there is still unsold spectrum left.

The government may rake in above Rs. 1,00,00 crores from the spectrum sale if bidding continues at robust pace.

"The bidding has taken place in all bands. At present, a value of approximately Rs. 86,000 crores has been committed by bidders in respect of provisionally won spectrum. Bidding would recommence on Monday," the Department of Telecom said.

Till now, 24 rounds of bidding have taken place in four days. At the end of 17 rounds on Friday, the value stood at Rs. 77,000 crores.

However, the government will not release results of the auction because of a court ruling.

In 800MHz band, four new areas of Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab and West Bengal witnessed activity Saturday whereas 1800MHz band, North-East and Rajasthan circles saw new bids.

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: 2100MHz, 1800MHz, 900MHz and 800MHz.

On the fourth day on Saturday, robust bidding was witnessed in all the bands and Karnataka also witnessed bidding for the first time in the 2100MHz band. However, there was no bidding in Mumbai, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh in 2100MHz band.

A total of 380.75MHz of spectrum is on offer in the premium 900MHz band, 1800MHz and 800MHz while 5MHz is up for bidding in the 2100MHz band across 17 out of 22 telecom areas or circles in the country.

Most of the spectrum put up for auction is presently 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.

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