DoT fixes 2G auction reserve prices; Delhi, Mumbai spectrum to cost most

28 Aug 2012 Evaluate

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released an Information Memorandum (IM) on the auction of second-generation spectrum, with Delhi being the most expensive at a reserve price of Rs 693.06 crore per block of 1.25 MHz and Rs 900 crore for GSM and CDMA respectively. Delhi includes local areas served by Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida, and Gurgaon telephone exchanges.

Mumbai is not far behind either, as the reserve price for Mumbai is the second highest at Rs 678.45 crore (per 1.25 MHz) and Rs 900 crore for GSM and CDMA respectively. Mumbai means local areas served by Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan telephone exchanges.

As per IM, block size shall be 1.25MHz (Paired), while a minimum of 8 blocks each of 1.25MHz (10MHz) will be put to auction in all service areas. Although the existing operators will be permitted to take maximum two blocks of 1.25MHz each in every service area, new entrants will be required to bid for minimum of 4 blocks each of 1.25 MHz in each service area. Additionally, new entrants will also be allowed to bid for one additional block of 1.25MHz in each service area.

DoT is expected to issue a notice inviting applications on September 28, while the last date of submission of application, as detailed in IM, would be October 19. Meanwhile, the final list of bidders is expected to be released on November 6. This will be followed by a mock auction on November 7 and 8 and thereafter the e-auction of 1,800 MHz band will take place on November 12.

Further, DoT has also fixed the earnest money, a deposit a buyer makes to the seller to show its faith in a transaction, for pan-India bidding at Rs 442 crore for 2G spectrum in the 1,800 Mhz band across the country, while the base price pegged for acquiring pan-India spectrum was fixed at Rs 14,000 crore for 5 Mhz in the 1,800 Mhz band and 1.3 times higher for the 800 Mhz band.

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