Only 3 private players to offer 3G services

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The government has decided to allow only three private players to offer 3G mobile services.

“The Government has decided to assign by auction up to 3 blocks of 5x2 Mhz of paired in the 2.1 Ghz band in each of the 22 circles,” A PTI report quoted the draft Notice Inviting Application, which also said the auction is being planned for February 12. This will be in addition to the one 2x5MHz block which has been allocated to BSNL/MTNL.

Rajasthan, Assam and the North East, which were not on the 3G map earlier due to unavailability of spectrum, will also figure in the bidding process.

The government has postponed the 3G auction, which was slated for January 14, to February 12, owing to differences between DoT and the Ministry of Defence over vacating spectrum. The draft said efforts are on to vacate more spectrum from defence.

The draft also states that operators who win the bidding process for 3G will have to pay the entire money within 15 days of the close of auction.

The final date for submission of applications is January 25. The pre-qualification of bidders will be announced on February 5 and mock auction on February 9-10.