Union Cabinet approves next round of spectrum auction: Prakash Javadekar

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the next round of telecom spectrum auctions with airwaves worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore going under the hammer. However, the bands identified for 5G (3300-3600 Mhz) have been left out of this tranche.

According to telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Department of Telecom (DoT) will issue a notice inviting bids by the end of this month and auctions for 20-year licences will be held by March 2021. Airwaves being offered are in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz frequency bands—a cumulative 2,251.25 MHz of spectrum worth Rs 3.92 lakh crore at reserve prices.