In 2024, the expiring spectrum and the unsold spectrum from the 2022 Spectrum Auction were auctioned again to fulfill the spectrum needs of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to maintain and expand their services.
The auction included all available spectrums in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands. This year’s auction saw activity in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands.
The auction began on 25 June 2024, at 10:00 AM and ended on 26 June 2024, at 11:45 AM after seven rounds. Due to the recent 5G spectrum auction and ongoing 5G monetization, no bids were placed in the 800 MHz, 2300 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands. Out of the remaining 533.6 MHz spectrum, a total of 141.4 MHz (26.5 percent) was sold. This is notable considering that a substantial 51.2 GHz of spectrum was sold in August 2022.
The three major TSPs—Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm, and Vodafone Idea—successfully acquired spectrum in this auction to ensure the growth and continuity of their services. In total, 141.4 MHz of spectrum worth Rs 11,340 crores was sold.
Photo source: pexels.com
