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Indian spectrum auction uncertain after just 1 applicant
2013-02-26 09:11:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) India has received just one application to participate in the planned spectrum auction next month, the Department of Telecom announced. Sistema Shyam Teleservices, which operates under the name MTS India, applied to bid for spectrum in the 800MHz band. There were no applicants for the frequencies in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands. The auction includes frequencies not sold in the auction last November, which was boycotted by many operators due to high reserve prices. The government has lowered the prices this time around, but operators are still calling for deeper cuts. In addition, existing operators such as Vodafone India and Bharti Airtel are opposing the auction of their 900MHz band frequencies before they expire. The government is under a court order to sell off all of the spectrum associated with the licences canceled in early 2012 by the Supreme Court, due to irregularities in the previous allocation system. Much of this spectrum was included in the planned auction in March, but government officials said another auction would be needed after that to complete the process.
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Category:Telecommunications