Data Drive Lot’s on offer, but limited demand

It is a spectrum auction where there will be more on offer than what telecom service providers need or will even bid for. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has put 2353MHz on offer across seven bands - 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 and 2500MHz in the auctions starting September 29. While going by the base price, the government should get R5.6 lakh crore, analysts estimate it to be in the region of R60,000 crore. That’s because unlike in 2014 and 2015, telcos will not be bidding for renewal spectrum. Also demand in the expensive 700MHz band where 770MHz is on offer across 22 circles will be limited. It will be an auction where operators try to plug in the gaps in their 3G and 4G coverage rather than seeking additional spectrum.