The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to start the proposed auction of 2G spectrum by December 20, 2012. The auction would be followed by the allocation of spectrum to winners in March 2013.
Firstly, DoT will seek recommendations from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) before deciding on and initiating the process related to auction.
DoT has arrived at the date after taking into consideration strict timeline for all process required before auction. The department hopes to achieve recommendations from TRAI by May 17, 2012. These would then be reviewed by DoT followed by an approval from Empowered Group of Ministers.
After receiving TRAI recommendation government will have a month?s time to take decision on the auction as per Supreme Court verdict. Post this, DoT will need around two weeks to issue guidelines on the auction and incorporate changes, if required.
It has been reported that once the aforementioned deadlines are met, the Ministry will start shortlisting auctioneer by end of June 2012 and would be able to issue a notice inviting applications by end-September 2012. DoT estimates that auction will end within period of 40 days as against 63 days that it took during auction of 3G spectrum.
