Indo-Asian News Service, New Delhi, March 24: The government has received cumulative commitments of Rs.109,000cr from telecom operators during the 18 days of e-auctions since March 4 for the award of radio frequency spectrum, an official statement said here Tuesday.
Seven fresh rounds of bidding were seen on Day 18.
Day 17 on Monday saw Rs.105,000cr commitment from telecom operators at the end of bidding after 104 rounds.
“The bidding is taking place in all bands. Brisk bidding was seen on 18th day of bidding, with activity requirement set at 100 percent. There is robust bidding going on in 900 MHz and 800 MHz bands,” the department of telecom (DoT) said in a statement.
“At the end of 110th round, about 89 percent of the spectrum has been provisionally allocated to bidders. The provisional amount committed by bidders at the end of 110th round is over Rs.109,000cr. Majority of service areas are going at a premium over reserve price,” it said.
“The competitive bidding is expected to continue. There is still spectrum, which is yet to be sold. Bidding would recommence tomorrow i.e. 25-03-2015 at 9 a.m.,” the statement added.
The central government has budgeted for Rs.43,161.72cr from e-auctions of spectrum for the current fiscal while the reserve price for the entire spectrum on offer in the four bands across India was around Rs.80,000cr.
The bids so far have well exceeded these numbers.