NEW DELHI, INDIA: Bharti Airtel has applied for third-generation mobile spectrum bid in all of the country's 22 telecom zones, a spokesman for the leading mobile operator said on Thursday.

No. 2 operator Reliance Communications also said it would shortly apply to bid for the spectrum in all the zones.

India will auction three slots each of third-generation wireless spectrum in most of its telecoms zones, including the lucrative Delhi and Mumbai regions, from April 9, the telecoms ministry said last month.