Spectrum auction to start from February 25

The next round of spectrum auction for 2G and 3G networks will be held from February 25, through which the government targets to garner at least Rs 64,840 crore. A notification was issued by the Department of Telecom in this regard on Friday. The spectrum auction will be held for frequencies in four bands of 800 Mhz, 900 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, 2100 Mhz.

The last date for submission of applications is February 6 while auction will start from February 25, according to the timeline mentioned in the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA). The Union Cabinet on Monday approved the largest ever telecom spectrum auction that is targeted to fetch at least Rs 64,840 crore from the sale next month. The government will sell 380.75 megahertz of second generation (2G) spectrum in three bands -- the premium 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 800 MHz.

Details regarding auction of spectrum in 2100 MHz will be issued later, the NIA said. The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a reserve price of Rs 3646 crore pan-India per MHz in 800 MHz, Rs 3980 crore for 900 MHz band pan India excluding Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and J&K; Rs 2191 crore pan India (excluding Maharashtra and West Bengal) in 1800 MHz band. The reserve price for 2,100 MHz is yet to be announced.

Government had garnered about Rs 62,162 crore from the last auction in February 2014.