3G spectrum auction on schedule: Raja

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Auction of third generation (3G) spectrum will not be delayed and take place as per schedule, Communications and IT Minister A. Raja said on Friday.

"There is no change in auction schedule," Raja told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here. "The EGoM (empowered group of ministers) will decide on the number of slots."

The government Thursday said the 3G spectrum available with it could accommodate only three operators as one slot has already been awarded to state-owned telephony firms MTNL and BSNL.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is scheduled to auction the spectrum from January 14.

The government has fixed a reserve price of Rs.3,500 crore for pan-Indian 3G spectrum and Rs.1,750 crore for Wimax, which was expected to add Rs.25,000 crore in the government kitty.

©IANS