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India allots 3G spectrum to operators
02 September 2010
The seven winning bidders in India’s 3G auction have been allocated spectrum, and the government has set a roll-out timetable
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India
3G
Bharti Airtel
Reliance
Idea Cellular
Vodafone Essar
Aircel
STel
Tata
The Indian government has allocated 3G spectrum to the winning bidders after amending the terms and conditions of the licence. The seven operators are Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular, Vodafone Essar, Aircel, STel and Tata Teleservices.
As part of the amendments, the operators will be able to use the 3G spectrum for 20 years. The government has also imposed a roll-out obligation, under which the service providers will have to cover at least 90% of the service areas in the metros within the next five years.
If the operators are unable to achieve the roll-out obligations, they will be given extension for one more year after paying 2.5% of the spectrum purchase charge per quarter. The operators will have to pay the upward revised spectrum usage charges between 3-8%, depending on the quantity of spectrum held by them. GTB