DoT planning to start spectrum auction by mid-July

Department of Telecom is looking to commence the auction for spectrum, including in 700 Mhz band, around mid-July, which may fetch the government a whopping Rs. 5.36 lakh crore.

“Telecom Commission is meeting on March 28. The DoT is expecting Cabinet approval on spectrum price by mid-May and issue notice for auction in June. Taking into account various processes, spectrum auction should begin around July 15,” an official source told PTI .

Telecom service providers registered gross revenue of Rs. 2.54 lakh crore in 2014-15.

The source further said apart from spectrum auction the Telecom Commission in its Monday meeting will deliberate upon half a dozen transformative norms for the industry including virtual network operators.

TRAI had recommended a record high base price of Rs. 11,485 crore per Mhz for the 700 Mhz band. If all available radiowaves under this get sold at the TRAI-suggested price, it would yield a whopping Rs. 4 lakh crore.

The source said some clarifications are required on TRAI’s suggestions for which it needs to be send back to the regulator.