The third round of the spectrum auction took off from total bidding worth Rs 589.8 billion on the ninth day of the auction. At the end of 56 rounds of bidding, the government witnessed a decline in demand for spectrum in the 900 MHz band. In comparison, the demand for spectrum in the 1,800 MHz band continues to be strong.
At the end of 56 rounds of bidding, the government received total bids worth Rs 589.8 billion, which was about Rs 6.5 billion more than the total bids worth Rs 583.32 billion received at the of the seventh day of the auction. Further, after completion of 56 rounds, the government received total bids worth Rs 353.90 billion and Rs 235.89 billion in the 1,800 MHz and the 900 MHz band.
There was no change in the bidding price of spectrum in the 900 MHz band on the seventh and the eight day of spectrum auction, thereby indicating that spectrum price in the band was stabilising in the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles.
However, the bidding picked up for spectrum in the 1,800 MHz band for the Delhi and Mumbai circle. The spectrum price in the Delhi circle has more than doubled up from Rs 1.75 billion per MHz to Rs 3.64 billion per MHz. Meanwhile, the spectrum price in the Mumbai circle grew by 52.51 per cent from a base price of Rs 1.65 billion to Rs 2.51 billion. Besides, the Delhi and Mumbai circles, the demand for spectrum in the 1,800 MHz also increased in circles including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana and Kerala.
