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India raises $14.6bn in 3G auction
20 May 2010
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular are the provisional winners of India’s 3G auction
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India
3G
Bharti Airtel
Reliance
Vodafone Essar
Idea Cellular
India has raised about $14.6bn from its 3G mobile telephone services bandwidth auction. Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular have emerged as provisional winners in the auction.
Tata Teleservices, Aircel and S Tel are the other provisional winners in the auction, which began April 9. The Department of Telecommunications said the results are subject to the approval of the government.
The proceeds from the auction will include payments by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam, who were given bandwidth before auctions and now have to match the winning bids.
The Indian government had put up three bandwidth slots for sale to offer 3G services in 17 telecom service areas, and four slots in remaining five areas. The successful bidders will be allowed to offer 3G services on a commercial basis effective September 1 2010. GTB