DoT to conduct third round of 2G spectrum auction
The Department of Telecom looks to wrap up 2G spectrum auction at the earliest.
The Department of Telecom has formally announced it will be holding third round of spectrum auction for the airwaves that were vacated following revoking of telecom licences by Supreme Court in February last year and were not put for the auction in the last round. Details such as dates and base price for the airwaves, however, hasn’t been revealed yet. The DoT will be releasing these details in a separate announcement.
The telecom department said that in view of the last week’s SC order it has “decided that a separate auction will be held for the balance of Spectrum in 1800 MHz band in compliance with the direction of the Supreme Court in its order dated 15-2-2013.”
The Supreme Court in last week’s directives said that the airwaves released as a result of quashing of the licences should be put for auction without “further delay”.
Economic Times in its report points out the government has put only 271.25MHz of spectrum for auction in November 2012 while 514.8MHz of spectrum was freed up following the SC order.
“Details are being worked out and a separate NIA (notice inviting application) in this regard will be issued shortly,” DoT said.
The telecom department has also shelved its plans to raise the quantum of spectrum in Karnataka and Rajasthan circles, which are going for the auction next month. The government has announced availability of only 10 MHz each in Karnataka and Rajasthan, though 22MHz and 17.6MHz respectively of spectrum in these circles were freed.
Source: Economic Times