New Delhi, April 10: The government is hoping to reap around $8 billion from the sale of 3G airwaves, which begins on Friday, and a follow-up auction of broadband wireless access spectrum in what will be the largest such sale in recent years.
India’s mobile firms bidding billions of dollars in an auction this week to provide superfast third generation (3G) service in the country’s booming cellular market.
The 3G spectrum auction is off to a smooth start with top telecom operators, including Bharti, Vodafone, RCom and Tatas, in the fray to acquire the radio waves that could fetch the government up to Rs 35,000 crore.
When contacted, a senior Department of Telecom (DoT) official confirmed the smooth beginning of the auction across 22 circles simultaneously.
There are nine mobile operators, including the big six that would bid for the 3-4 slots on offer.
The final bidders include Bharti Airtel, Reliance Telecom, Idea Cellular, Vodafone Essar, TTSL and Aircel for pan India.
—Agencies