Nine firms to bid for 3G mobile spectrum: Govt

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Nine telecoms firms have applied to bid for third-generation (3G) mobile spectrum in India in an April auction, the government said after the end of the deadline for submitting interest on Friday.

India's Department of Telecommunications said on its website it received 11 applications from firms to participate in a separate auction for broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum.

India has put on the block three 3G slots in most of its 22 telecoms service areas, while two slots per service area are up for grabs for BWA radio airwaves.

The 3G auction starts from April 9, and the BWA auction will kick off two days after it closes.

Following is the list of applicants for the auctions.

Applicants for 3G auction

1. Aircel Ltd

2. Bharti Airtel Ltd

3. Etisalat DB Telecom India Pvt Ltd

4. Idea Cellular Ltd

5. Reliance Telecom Ltd

6. S Tel Pvt Ltd

7. Tata Teleservices Ltd

8. Vodafone Essar Ltd

9. Videocon Telecommunications Ltd

Applicants for BWA auction

1. Aircel Ltd

2. Augere (Mauritius) Ltd

3. Bharti AirteL Ltd

4. Idea Cellular Ltd

5. Infotel Broadband Services Pvt Ltd

6. Qualcomm Inc

7. Reliance WiMax Ltd

8. Spice Internet Service Provider Pvt Ltd

9. Tata Communications Internet Services Ltd

10.Tikona Digital Networks Pvt Ltd

11.Vodafone Essar Ltd