DOT, after a fortnight's delay, is all set to finalise an agency to conduct the e-auction of spectrum in 22 telecom service areas which will be held latest by July 10. As per a Supreme Court order the DoT was supposed to complete the auction before August 31, 2012.
Once the auctioneer is finalized the DoT will have to finalise various terms of the auction and give time to telecom companies to seek clarification and legal opinion on clauses of auction among others.
DoT had earlier sought more than four and a half months time between the date of finalising auctioneer and start of bids for spectrum, while it is gearing to hold a prebid conference with prospective auctioneer on June 12.
For 3G and wireless broadband access (BWA) spectrum in 2010 Department of Telecommunications had selected global consultancy firm NM Rothschild and Sons.
Unitech Wireless,Telenor,Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd, Etisalat, Idea Cellular, Swan Telecom and Loop Telecom which have lost licences would have to bid aggressively for spectrum to keep operations unaffected.So June is going to be very aggressive for operators and we will know which operator is going to sustain in India.
So as a reader what's your take, which operator will stay and which one will bid adieu to India? Do share your views via comments.
