4G spectrum sale cleared, reserve price lower than TRAI advice
The notice inviting applications from telecom service providers will be issued later this month, and the government hopes to complete the sale by March 2021, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Updated: December 17, 2020 7:19:45 am
The new round of auctions is likely to provide a boost to government revenue collections at a time when its inflows from other sources such as direct taxes, indirect taxes such as goods and services tax, have fallen sharply on account of restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the sale of 2251.25 MHz of spectrum across seven frequency bands at a reserve price of Rs 3.92 lakh crore.
Synopsis
The Cabinet is expected to consider the telecom department’s proposal on the next spectrum auctions at its meeting on Wednesday, which would include a sale of only 4G airwaves and is likely to be held in March, officials familiar with the matter said.
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NEW DELHI: The Cabinet is expected to consider the telecom department’s proposal on the next spectrum auctions at its meeting on Wednesday, which would include a sale of only 4G airwaves and is likely to be held in March, officials familiar with the matter said.
“The auction is likely to be scheduled for March. It will only be for 4G,” one of the officials said.
Union Cabinet approves next round of spectrum auction: Prakash Javadekar
The Digital Communications Commission, the apex decision making body of the Department of Telecom, in May approved the spectrum auction plan subject to the cabinet approval.
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| A+A A- By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the next round of telecom spectrum auctions with airwaves worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore going under the hammer. However, the bands identified for 5G (3300-3600 Mhz) have been left out of this tranche.
According to telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Department of Telecom (DoT) will issue a notice inviting bids by the end of this month and auctions for 20-year licences will be held by March 2021. Airwaves being offered are in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz frequency bands a cumulative 2,251.25 MHz of spectrum worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore at reserve prices.
Synopsis
The minister said that the cabinet has approved relief for sugarcane farmers, improvement in electricity infrastructure in North Eastern states and the auction of spectrum.
Cabinet approves next round of spectrum auction
The Union Cabinet has approved the auction of 4G airwaves in March 2021, which is expected to fetch it Rs 3.92 lakh crore based on reserve prices. The sales will help Reliance Jio renew a chunk of expiring spectrum permits and offer Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) a chance to strengthen their bandwidth holdings as data usage rises.
“Spectrum will be offered for assignment for validity period of 20 years. A total of 2251.25 MHz is being offered with total valuation of Rs 3,92,332.7 crore (at reserve price),” the government said in a statement Wednesday.
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