DoT may push deadline for submitting auctioneer bids for 5G spectrum sale

The telecom department is likely to push, by a week or 10 days, the deadline for submission of bids for roping in an agency that will be tasked to conduct spectrum auction in various bands, including 5G, as it plans to tweak eligibility norms to ensure maximum participation by prospective auctioneers.

The government had invited bids for selection of an auctioneer, for the sale of 8000 MHz of spectrum at a starting price of over Rs 5.7 trillion. The original deadline for submission of bids was September 25, and that for finalisation of auctioneer was October 10.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is, however, now reconsidering the eligibility criteria following feedback from prospective auctioneers at a pre bid conference held earlier this month, and accordingly some of the aspects could be tweaked, a government source said.