The DoT has started reportedly working on the auction process for spectrum in the 700MHz band.
The sale is expected to take place by 2012 and could allow the government to raise as much as Rs130bn (US$2.9bn).
The DoT was quoted saying that such…
The DoT has started reportedly working on the auction process for spectrum in the 700MHz band.
The sale is expected to take place by 2012 and could allow the government to raise as much as Rs130bn (US$2.9bn).
The DoT was quoted saying that such frequencies are particularly relevant for the roll-out of wireless broadband services. This spectrum is expected to be vacated by state agencies, such as TV broadcaster Doordarshan.
The freeing up process is reportedly being monitored by the DoT, the cabinet secretariat and the prime minister’s office.
Last year, India raised US$22bn from its 3G auction. But telecom minister Kapil Sibal reportedly told local telecoms officials that most of the 3G spectrum sold in the recent auction was still being used for 2G services.
In a separate report, the MoD said it is seeking another 70MHz in national mobile spectrum from the DoT.
The DoT, which says the MoD is now demanding 150MHz of spectrum in the 1700MHz-2000MHz band for some areas along international borders, has responded that allowing such a move would hurt mobile operators as well as the government’s coffers.
The MoD has threatened to stop giving up 2G and 3G spectrum – having signed an MoU with the DoT in 2009 promising to free such spectrum for three years – citing the DoT’s failure to honour its own commitments.
If the two government departments are unable to reach an agreement, the question will be put to a group of ministers.
