India ready to delay spectrum auctions to auspicious day

NEW DELHI: The government of India may push back the forthcoming auction of telecom spectrum by a few days to coincide with the auspicious period and festival season as has been requested by country’s telecom operators.

The forthcoming auction of spectrum in which airwaves worth Rs 5.66 lakh crore will be put for sale in country.

More than 2300 MHz spectrum is available for auction across 7 bands and the 7 bands are : 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands.

"The date of auction we had announced from September 29, but many companies and people feel that the Navratra is starting from October 1, that is a good time to bid. If it gives them good comfort to bid and spend more money to buy the spectrum, we are willing to change it to the first week," said Telecom Secretary J S Deepak, quoted by PTI.

The government had decided to allot the right to use certain spectrum for 20 years through Spectrum Auction to be conducted in the Month of September 2016 (is scheduled to start from September 29).