The telecom regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended 3G spectrum base price at Rs 2,720 cr per MHz pan-India for to be auctioned in February next year. As the Narendra Modi government planned to conduct 3G spectrum auction along with 2G spectrum sale in 2015. It had asked telecom regulator to expedite the base price recommendations for it.
Telecom companies as well as the regulator have been of the view that the auction should take place only when adequate spectrum is made available, and the bidding should be held simultaneously for both the services - 2G and 3G.
“Department of telecommunications (DoT) requested Trai to expedite the process for its recommendations on the reserve price of 2100 Mhz band and related issues so that the auction of spectrum in this band could be conducted along with the auction of spectrum in the 800/900/1800 MHz bands scheduled in February 2015," the regulator said early of this month.
The government is estimated to garner at least Rs.9,355 crore from sale of spectrum. As per estimates, auction of spectrum in 2100 Mhz band in February can fetch bids worth at least Rs.5,000 crore. Lastly, according to a presentation by DoT to Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on November 13, and it expects to start bidding for spectrum by February 23.
