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Policy & Regulation
Another auction of telecom spectrum with 700 MHz band for 4G likely to be held early next year
TT Correspondent |  |  27 Jul 2015

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is planning another bumper auction of telecom spectrum that may even surpass record sales in March. Likely to be held early next year, this will include frequencies in the 2G, 3G and 4G bands. Spectrum in the prized 700 MHz band for 4G may also be on offer for the first time ever, Reports ET, (Economic Times).

Starting prices have been sought for the 2G bands of 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, the 3G band of 2100 MHz and the 4G bands of 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz, apart from 700 MHz. Under new liberalised spectrum rules, all these bands can be used to offer any telecom services using any technology. Hence, 800 MHz and 1800 MHz can be also used for 4G, while 900 MHz can also be used to offer 3G services.

Additionally, state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd's (MTNL) spectrum across 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz in the lucrative circles of Delhi and Mumbai will be due for renewal in October 2017. But it's unclear if the government will put MTNL's bandwidth up for sale or extend its licences at market price. "We will put up the airwaves which remained unsold in the last auctions as well as some more spectrum which we might get back from defence and the harmonisation process," the official said.

Harmonisation refers to making spectrum in any band contiguous, thus increasing efficiency without added costs. The DoT had put a total of 470.75 MHz of spectrum up for auction in these bands in March. It was left with 15 MHz of unsold airwaves in the 2100 MHz band, 5.4 MHz in the 1800 MHz band, 9.8 MHz in the 900 MHz band and 22.5 MHz of bandwidth in the 800 MHz band.

In 2100 MHz, the DoT is planning to auction the entire 15 MHz of airwaves that's with the defence services, official confirmed. "We have received a request for all these bands including 700 MHz," the official said. For the 700 MHz band, the telecom department has sought pricing of 30 MHz of airwaves across all 22 circles. The telecom industry has been seeking a timetable for the 700 MHz auction. Another senior industry executive said that the 700 MHz band will be highly prized, followed by 2100 MHz and 900 MHz for 3G.

ET, (The Economic Times, India's largest Economic daily)

    
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27 Jul 2015(IST)  
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