Spectrum auction ends after 5 days- Idea cellular buys 349.2 MHz spectrum for Rs. 12,798 crore

So after 5 days and 31 rounds of bidding, India’s biggest ever spectrum auction has finally concluded. Though the Department of telecom is yet to disclose the provisional list of winners and the details of who won what in which circle, the very initial information that we have received reveals that Idea cellular has emerged stronger by 349.20 MHz which it won in the auction at a price of Rs. 12,798 crores at less than 1% premium over the floor price set by the government.

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Idea has acquired additional 2×74.6 MHz spectrum in FDD technology on 1800 and 2100 bands, and 200 MHz of capacity spectrum in TDD technology on 2300 and 2500 bands. This enables Idea to complete its mobile broadband footprint across all 22 licensed service areas in India and also equips the company with substantial capacity spectrum required for meeting data capacity needs for its ever growing 180 million customer base.

 Comments Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Idea Cellular Limited ‘To fulfil our Prime Minister’s Mr Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India, Idea in this Auction completes its Pan India Wireless Broadband Footprint. With an aggregate spectrum holding of over 890 MHz (in FDD and TDD technology bands) including acquisition in the current auction of 349.20 MHz, Idea has filled all of its spectrum coverage requirements, while procuring a substantial part of its broadband capacity needs for the next decade. The company will now focus on expanding its Wireless Broadband presence primarily on 4G LTE technology to over a billion Indians while offering World Class high speed Digital Customer experience like never before.’

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Idea is now well equipped to offer 4G services on its own spectrum across 20 service areas including 9 new service areas of Uttar Pradesh (West), Uttar Pradesh (East), Gujarat, Bihar & Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Mumbai, West Bengal, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. Additionally, Idea has also procured 3G spectrum in Bihar & Rajasthan extending its capability to offer 3G services to 15 service areas.

Idea in this auction has expanded its spectrum portfolio by over 64%. The company has acquired an additional ‘35’ 4G LTE and ‘2’ 3G wireless broadband carriers for new coverage and capacity enhancement, primarily in its leadership markets. Idea now owns 64 broadband carriers and intends to use 47 of these carriers on 4G LTE technology covering 94% of its revenue base, and 17 carriers for 3G services.