The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday released the notice inviting applications (NIA) for Spectrum Auction 2021 which will be held in the month of March. DoT has laid out the details of the spectrum to be put up for sale in the upcoming auction. The NIA offers details of LSAs, Spectrum put to Auction, Number of Blocks, Reserve Price per MHz, Reserve Price per Block, Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) per Block, Eligibility Point per Block for e-auction of Spectrum.
DoT has in entirety put 2250 MHz spectrum with a total valuation of Rs. 3,92,332.70 crores to auction. Let us take a deep dive into the quantum of spectrum put to auction by DoT.
Quantum of Airwaves put on sale- Spectrum Auction 2021
700 MHz Band
The highly coveted 700 MHz band which may attract bids from Reliance Jio given it is flush with investments from recent stake sales in Jio Platforms is the first one up. DoT has put up spectrum to auction in all telecom circles in the block size of 5 MHz (paired). The number of blocks across each circle is 6 while the quantum of the spectrum on sale is 30 MHz (paired) across each telecom circle. The total spectrum put to auction in the 700 MHz band is 660 MHz.
The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 170 crore in Jammu & Kashmir and North East while going as high as Rs 5610 crore in Mumbai. These spectrum blocks are available and may be assigned immediately provided an existing licensee/new entrant picks up the right to use spectrum in 700 MHz.
800 MHz Band
Next up is the 800 MHz band, something that will be very crucial for Reliance Jio given its airwaves in this spectrum band is expiring in multiple circles along with the spectrum holdings of Reliance Communications which it currently uses through spectrum sharing pact. DoT has put up spectrum for auction in all telecom circles in the block size of 1.25 MHz (paired). The total spectrum put to auction in the 800 MHz band is 230 MHz.
The quantum of the spectrum on sale varies from 2.5 MHz (paired) to 15 MHz (paired) on a circle to circle basis. The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 18.75 crore in Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and North East while going as high as Rs 908.75 crore in Mumbai.
The availability of spectrum blocks varies from circle to circle and block-wise within service areas. Some blocks are available immediately, while some will be available post 20th July 2021. The blocks not available immediately are currently held by Reliance Jio and Reliance Communications.
900 MHz Band
Next in the line is the 900 MHz band wherein DoT has put spectrum to auction in the block size of 0.2 MHz (paired) across all telecom circles excluding Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. The aforesaid three circles will have no spectrum for sale. The total spectrum put to auction in the 900 MHz band is 81.4 MHz.
The quantum of the spectrum on sale varies from 1 MHz (paired) to 17 MHz (paired) on a circle to circle basis. The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 7.4 crore in Himachal Pradesh while going as high as Rs 138.2 crore in Mumbai.
In Tamil Nadu, certain spectrum blocks will be available post 28 September 2021 in Chennai and post 26 September 2021 in Tamil Nadu LSA excluding Chennai while the rest spectrum blocks are available immediately. The spectrum blocks which are not immediately available are currently with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea which may bid for the 900 MHz band.
1800 MHz Band
DoT has put up spectrum to auction in 1800 MHz band in the block size of 0.2 MHz (paired) in all telecom circles except North East wherein no spectrum will be on the table for sale. The total spectrum put to auction in the 1800 MHz band is 313.6 MHz.
The quantum of the spectrum on sale varies from 3 MHz (paired) to 22.2 MHz (paired) on a circle to circle basis. The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 3.4 crore in Jammu & Kashmir and North East while going as high as Rs 112.2 crore in Mumbai.
Select spectrum blocks in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (Chennai only & excluding Chennai), and Karnataka will be available post 26th September 2021, in Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East), and Himachal Pradesh post 5th October 2021, in Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh (West), Tamil Nadu (Chennai only & excluding Chennai), and Haryana post 28th September 2021.
2100 MHz Band
DoT has put spectrum to auction in 2100 MHz band in the block size of 5 MHz (paired) in all telecom circles except Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East), and Tamil Nadu. The total spectrum put to auction in the 2100 MHz band is 175 MHz.
The quantum of the spectrum on sale varies from 5 MHz (paired) to 15 MHz (paired) on a circle to circle basis. The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 30 crore in North East while going as high as Rs 2640 crore in Mumbai.
These spectrum blocks are available and may be assigned immediately provided an existing licensee/new entrant picks up the right to use spectrum in 2100 MHz.
2300 MHz Band
DoT has put spectrum to auction in 2300 MHz band in all telecom circles in the block size of 10 MHz unpaired. The total spectrum put to auction in the 2300 MHz band is 560 MHz.
The quantum of the spectrum on sale varies from 20 MHz unpaired to 40 MHz unpaired on a circle to circle basis. The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 10 crore in North East, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh while going as high as Rs 1670 crore in Mumbai.
These spectrum blocks are available and may be assigned immediately provided an existing licensee/new entrants pick up the right to use spectrum in 2300 MHz.
2500 MHz Band
DoT has put spectrum on auction in 2500 MHz band in the block size of 10 MHz unpaired in all telecom circles except Assam, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), and West Bengal. The total spectrum put to auction in the 2500 MHz band is 230 MHz.
The quantum of the spectrum on sale varies from 10 MHz unpaired to 40 MHz unpaired on a circle to circle basis. The reserve price per block starts as low as Rs 10 crore in Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh while going as high as Rs 1670 crore in Mumbai.
These spectrum blocks are available and may be assigned immediately provided an existing licensee/new entrant picks up the right to use spectrum in 2500 MHz.
Further Reading
Pan India Telecom Spectrum holding chart 2021 | OnlyTech
What’s at stake for each telecom operator this Spectrum Auction 2021 | OnlyTech
