The 5G spectrum auction has already started in India and Reliance Jio, Vodafone-Idea, and Bharti Airtel, including Adani Data Networks, are participating in the same. The auction started on (July 26th and managed to garner 1.45 lakh crore during the first day.
However, the Government has managed to get Rs. 4,000 crores from the bidding. This means the Government has so far received Rs. 1.49 lakh crore in total. “So far, at the end of the ninth round, we have grossed about Rs. 1,49,454 crores (Rs. 1.49 trillion). We have been able to successfully generate confidence in the industry,” Ashwini Vaishnaw, Communications Minister, informed the media.
Spectrum Auction Bands Battle
It is important to note that the Day 1 of the auction, telecom operators bid for frequencies like 600MHz and other low-band of airwaves, whereas on Day 2 telecom operators bid for the mid-band (C-band) like 3.3GHz and 3.67GHz. The high band like 26GHz airwaves also received bidding from the telecom operators.
It is worth noting that Reliance Jio has spent over Rs. 82, 500 crores on the different bands available on the airwaves. In fact, Jio’s earnest money deposit is also higher than any other operator.
Meanwhile, Airtel emerged as the second bidder that is close to Rs. 46,000 crores. The telecom operator targeted 3.6GHz of the mid-band and 26GHz in the high band in the auction. However, it is expected that Airtel will not go for 700MHz bands. Similarly, Vodafone-Idea spent Rs. 19,000 crores on the mid and high-band airwaves.
On the other hand, Adani Group spent Rs. 900 to Rs. 1,000 crores in the auction and bid for the 26GHz band.
1800MHz Band: Aggressive Bidding
According to an ET report, the 1800MHz band received aggressive bidding from India’s leading telecom operators Reliance Jio and Airtel. Notably, the band is good for providing connectivity.
The report claims that both fought for the same band in eight circles, including Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Northeast, Karnataka, Kerala, UP-West, and Rajasthan.
“In all those places, coverage is very important. To get good coverage, you need a lower band. We are confident that this will provide a very high quality of service to the far-flung areas of our country,” Vaishnaw added.
