The department of telecommunications on Friday published the list of final bidders who are eligible for bidding for spectrum in the auctions commencing 1st of October 2016. The mega auction will see the government put for sale over 2350 MHz of spectrum across the 700/850/900/1800/2100/2300/2500 MHz bands.
None of the 7 operators who had submitted applications withdrew it (Last date for withdrawing applications was 22nd Sept). The mock auctions will be conducted on 26th and 27th September while the actual bidding process will begin on 1st October 2016.
Reliance Jio:
This operator has deposited the highest amount of Earnest money Rs.6500 crore and has the highest eligibility points 44,506. This operator can bid for spectrum in any band in any circle.
Vodafone India:
This operator has deposited Rs.2740 crore as Earnest money and has 18,821 eligibility points. This operator can bid for spectrum in any band in any circle.
Idea Cellular:
This operator has deposited Rs.2000 crore as Earnest money and has 13,750 eligibility points. This operator can bid for spectrum in any band in any circle.
Bharti Airtel:
This operator has deposited Rs.1980 crore as Earnest money and has 13,640 eligibility points. This operator can bid for spectrum in any band in any circle.
Tata Teleservices:
This operator has deposited Rs.1000 crore as Earnest money and has 6,919 eligibility points. This operator can bid for spectrum in any band in Mumbai and Maharashtra circles. In the 850 MHz band it can bid for all circles except for Assam and North East. In the 900 and 1800 MHz bands it can bid for all circles apart from Assam, North East and Delhi. In the 2100 MHz band it can bid only for Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh west circles. In the 700, 2300 and 2500 MHz band it can bid only for Mumbai and Maharashtra circles.
Reliance communications:
This operator has deposited Rs.313 crore as Earnest money and has 2,158 eligibility points. This operator can bid for spectrum in any band in any circle apart from Assam and North East.
Aircel:
This operator has deposited Rs.120 crore as Earnest money and has 792 eligibility points which is lowest among all operators. This operator can bid for spectrum in 900 and 1800 MHz bands in any circle. In the 2100 MHz band it can bid only for Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, North East, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh East and West Bengal circles. In the 2300 MHz band it can bid only for Andhra Pradesh circle. In the 700, 850 and 2500 MHz bands it cannot bid for spectrum in any circle.
Note:
Reliance communications and Aircel which announced the signing of definitive merger deal last week, will be bidding independently for spectrum in the upcoming auction. Telenor India, Videocon Telecom and MTS India have chosen to not participate in the auction altogether. BSNL has shown interest in reserving one block of 5 MHz in the premium 700 MHz band Pan India which will at base price cost Rs.57,425 crore.
