GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1952
ANSWERED ON:05.12.2012
AUCTION OF G SPECTRUM
(a) the name of bidders participated in the recently held 2G auction and the revenue generated by the Government from it block-wise/circle-wise;
(b) whether the revenue generated out of the auction has been far below the estimated target set by the Government and even there were no bidder for some telecom circles;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(d) the future plan chalked out by the Government for auction of the spectrum for remaining telecom circles;
(e) whether the Government has included only a part of the spectrum in the auction out of total available spectrum; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
a)The names of the bidders who participated in the recently held spectrum auction are:
(i)M/s. Bharti Airtel Limited.
(ii)M/s. Idea Cellular Limited
(iii)M/s. Vodafone South Limited
(iv)M/s. Videocon Telecommunications Limited.
(v)M/s. Telewings Communications Services Private Limited. The circle-wise bid value obtained from the auction of 1800MHz band spectrum is given in Annexure - A.
(b) & (c) The estimated revenues were Rs. 40,000 crores based on the Reserve Price of both 1800MHz & 800MHz bands put out for auction. The bid value obtained from auction of 1800MHz is Rs. 9407.64 crores. There were no bidders for Delhi, Mumbai, Karnataka and Rajasthan Telecom Service Areas in the 1800MHz band and for all Service Areas in the 800MHz band.
(d)No decision has been taken for auction of spectrum for remaining telecom circles.
(e) & (f)Spectrum in the 2G bands of 800MHz and 1800MHz were put to auction in all 22 service areas, as directed by Hon’ble Supreme Court. A total quantum of 95MHz of spectrum (CDMA) was put to auction in the 800MHz band and a total quantum of 295MHZ (GSM) was put to auction in the 1800MHz band, making a total of 390MHz (as against the quantum of spectrum of 473.6MHz (413.6MHz in 1800MHz band and 60MHz in 800MHz band) allotted to the 122 licensees). In the auction conducted, no bidding interest was expressed for spectrum in the 800MHz band. The auction for spectrum in the 1800MHz band which commenced on 12.11.2012 has concluded on 14.11.2012 with each participant that bid for spectrum securing the same. There are confirmed bidders for a total of 102 blocks of 1.25MHz each i.e. 127.7MHz of spectrum in the auction for 1800MHz band concluded on 14.11.2012 as against 295MHz on offer in the auction.