According to the tentative timeline drawn by an inter-ministerial committee (IMC), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) plans to start the next round of spectrum auction on January 8, 2014.
The IMC has stated that the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by P Chidambaram, minister of finance would review the recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on spectrum allocation and pricing by November 7, 2013. Subsequently, these recommendations would be approved by the cabinet by November 23, 2013. It is only after the conclusion of these processes that DoT would be in a position to finalise and issue notice inviting applications (NIA). DoT is likely to release the NIA by December 2, while interested bidders will have to apply by December 23.
According to the tentative timeline, DoT will publish the final list of bidders on January 4, 2014. The department will hold public information sessions with operators on January 6 and 7, 2013.
