DoT to start spectrum auction in 8 bands on 20 May

Department of Telecom (DoT) has invited applications for award of telecom spectrum for eight bands, initiating the process of spectrum auction. This will augment the availability of radio waves needed to maintain and expand telecom services across the country.

Announcing this, DoT said the availability of spectrum will ensure affordable, state-of-art high quality telecom services across the country.

DoT will be auctioning all the available spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands in the latest round.

The total available spectrum across the eight bands adds up to 10,523.15 MHz and the reserve price for the entire spectrum has been fixed at Rs96317.65 crore.

The auction for all the spectrum bands will be carried out simultaneously and in multiple rounds in what DoT calls Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) e-auction.

Spectrum will be allocated for a period of 20 years and successful bidders can make payment in 20 equal annual installments. The interest rate will be kept unchanged at 8.65 per cent for the entire 20-year period. There will be no spectrum usage charges in the latest auction. 

Awardees can surrender spectrum allocated under the auction after a minimum period of ten years.

Bidders also need not submit any financial bank guarantee or performance bank guarantee for this auction.