02 July 2024

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) concluded its second 5G spectrum auction at the end of June, selling 141.4MHz of spectrum for INR113.4 billion.

Around 10,523MHz of spectrum in the 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2500MHz, 3300MHz and 26GHz bands were up for grabs, worth a potential INR963.1 billion.

However, in the end, India’s three private telcos eschewed the 5G bands mainly in favour of renewing spectrum licences set to expire and beefing up their mid-band spectrum pool.

Bharti Airtel was the biggest spender, acquiring 97MHz spectrum in the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands for Rs68.57 billion.

“In this auction, we have bolstered our sub-giga hertz and mid-band holding which will significantly improve our coverage especially indoor,” said Airtel MD and CEO Gopal Vittal.