When DoT published the provisional results for spectrum auction 2021, it was revealed that Vodafone Idea has managed to bag only 11.8 MHz of spectrum spread across 5 circles in 2 frequency bands. This does not come as a surprise as it was clear from the amount of EMD deposited by the operator for the auction that it will be a fringe player and will only bid selectively for spectrum. The details of spectrum won by Vi is mentioned in the table below.
| Circle | 900 MHz | 1800 MHz |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 0 | 4 |
| Tamil Nadu | 5 | 0 |
| Uttar Pradesh (E) | 0 | 1.4 |
| Uttar Pradesh (W) | 0 | 0.6 |
| West Bengal | 0.8 | 0 |
| Total | 5.8 | 6 |
We congratulate the DoT for the successful completion of the spectrum auction which was conducted in an absolutely flawless and smooth manner. Vodafone Idea lauds the Government’s efforts in taking Indian telecom sector from an era of spectrum scarcity to one of surplus spectrum. With sufficient spectrum availability and adequate number of market players, Indian telecom sector is well-positioned to drive the Digital India agenda.
Vodafone Idea said in its press release
In the next few years, the industry readies to deploy 5G technology with India-specific use cases. We are hopeful that a large quantum of spectrum in globally harmonized bands, will be made available for all operators in the future as well as it would be at fair prices that allow operators to have the ability to rapidly roll out networks, the release added.
Vodafone Idea was already in a state of spectrum surplus before the start of the auction with a 1744 MHz spectrum footprint Pan India, which meant it didn’t have any urgency to top up its spectrum holdings. This coupled with the constant subscriber losses and the huge AGR payment dues further restricted the operator’s bidding capacity.
What Vi will do with 0.8 mhz B8 in wb circle
So they had 6.6 MHz of liberalised spectrum in band 8 before the auction, out of which they could use 5 MHz for LTE and 1.6 MHz for GSM. But out of this, 4.4 MHz expires in 2024 then it will be left with only 2.2 MHz so rather they added 0.8 MHz to complete a 3 MHz block for narrow band LTE.
May be 5 MHz for Lte and 2.4Mhz for 2g as Vi currently using all 6.6 Mhz for 2g Spectrum expiring in 2024 should be renewed
2G will be shifted to 1800 mhz (band 3) after band 8 Unliberalized block expiry and rest 3 MHz block for narrow band LTE.
According to Vi spectrum portfolio disclosure in the latest quarterly report, that 4.4 MHz spectrum block which was unliberalised, got liberalised during Vodafone and Idea Merger (They list the entire 6.6 MHz as liberalised), check the attached image.
but whats point in narrow band LTE. there could be another aution before 2024, If vi survied that time, they can make full 5mhz
Buying sub GHz takes a lot of money and the pace at which Vi is going, they might be bankrupt by the next auction. Already their net worth is negative.
so vi brought costly spectrum today in anticipation that company wont survive til 2024? haha