The Department of Telecom (DoT) has extended the deadline for submitting applications for the upcoming spectrum auction by 14 days, to May 6, 2024. The last date for withdrawing applications has also been extended by 9 days, to May 17, 2024. The final list of bidders will be declared on May 20, 2024.
The government will auction eight spectrum bands for mobile phone services at a base price of approximately Rs 96,317 crore. All available spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 2,500 MHz, 3,300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands will be included in the auction.
The spectrum will be assigned for a period of 20 years, and successful bidders will be allowed to make payments in 20 equal annual installments. The DoT has also provided an option for bidders to surrender the spectrum acquired through the auction after a minimum period of 10 years.