The much awaited spectrum auction, of 2G and 3G started today. Eight private telecom operators including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, RCom, Reliance Jio, Tata Docomo, Aircel and Uninor are participating in the spectrum auction.

However, Aircel and Tata Teleservices won't be able to bid for spectrum in the 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz and 800 MHz frequencies because two telcos that have declared a negative net worth, which require net worth of at least Rs 100 crore to make it eligible for spectrum auction.

Sistema Shyam TeleServices (MTS India), BSNL, MTNL and Videocon Telecom are some of mobile service providers, which are not participating in the spectrum auction.

The spectrum auction will take place between 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, including public holiday – Holi on March 6, 2015.

Reliance Jio Infocomm has submitted the highest EMD of about Rs. 4,500 crores, followed by Bharti Airtel with Rs. 4,336 crores, Idea Cellular with Rs. 4,000 crores, Vodafone with Rs. 3,700 crores, Tata Teleservices with Rs. 1,500 crores, Reliance Communications with Rs. 1,175 crores, Telewings (Uninor) with Rs. 724.95 crores and Aircel with Rs. 500 crores.

DoT has fixed the pan-India per megahertz reserve price for the 800MHz CDMA band at Rs 3,646 crore; for the 900 MHz band Rs 3,980 crore (excluding Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and J&K); for the 1,800MHz band Rs 2,191 crore (excluding Maharashtra and West Bengal) and for 2,100 MHz Rs 3,705 crore.

While 5MHz of frequency will be auctioned in the 3G band of 2,100 MHz, a total of 380.75MHz will be sold in other frequencies — 103.75MHz in 800MHz band, 177.8 MHz (in 17 circles) in the 900 MHz band and 99.2MHz (in 15 circles) in the 1,800MHz band.

The government expects to mop up Rs 75,000 – Rs 100,000 crore from the auction.

Seven licenses each of Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications, four licenses of Bharti Airtel and six licenses of Vodafone will complete their 20-year term in December 2015, after which they have to be renewed.