(a) whether the Government has started the process of spectrum auction for strengthening of Telecom Services in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the total number of channels and the types of channels to be auctioned in the said auction along with the fixed bid amount therein;
(d) the total number of bidders who are enrolled for this auction; and
(e) the total amount fixed and revenue expected through this auction to the Government?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)
(a) & (b) Government has conducted auction of spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands on 1st and 2nd March, 2021. Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) was issued on 06.01.2021 in this regard. The Auction format was Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) e-Auction.
(c) & (e) A total of 2308.80 MHz spectrum with different block sizes in different frequency bands, with total valuation of Rs. 400396.20 Crore at reserve price was put to auction. In the auction, bids for 855.60 MHz spectrum with a total valuation of Rs. 77,820.82 have been received.
(d) Three bidders namely M/s Bharti Airtel Limited, M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited and M/s Vodafone Idea Limited had submitted applications for participation in the auction and subsequently participated in the auction.