Spectrum auction winners haven’t been revealed
Although the winners haven’t been disclosed, an Indian government spectrum auction ended on March 25 after 19 days and 115 rounds of bidding.
The spectrum auction raised more than $17.5 billion, which is 36% more than the government’s target for auction proceeds; the highest dollar value auction ever in India.
The spectrum auction covered frequencies in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands. The most bidding interest came for spectrum in the 2100 MHz and 800 MHz bands.
Bidders included Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Tata Teleservices, Uninor, Ideal Cellular and Aircel.
Actual allocation is waiting a Supreme Court ruling on multiple cases that scrutinize the auction rules, according to Medianama.
Once the rulings are handed down, bidders are required to pay 25% upfront for spectrum in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands. The upfront payment is 33% for spectrum in the 2100 MHz and 1800 MHz bands.
The balance of the bids can be paid out in 10 annual installments following a two-year moratorium, according to reports.
This auction and the recent spectrum Auction 97 conducted by the Federal Communications Commission reiterate the fundamental importance—and value—of spectrum assets to the telecommunications industry.
Auction 97 took 45 days to complete and comprised 341 rounds of bidding. In the end 31 bidders won 1,611 licenses for gross bids totaling $44,889,451,600.
Spectrum allocated in that case resides in the 1695-1710MHz, 1755-1780MHz and 2155-2180MHz bands, called the AWS-3 bands.
