A Department of Telecommunications? (DoT) working group for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17) has estimated an investment of Rs 6.5 trillion in the telecom space during the next plan.

Of the total amount, Rs 1 trillion is expected to be garnered from spectrum auctions and renewal of licences. The telecom equipment segment is expected to net Rs 2.85 trillion as investment, Rs 1.4 trillion is expected to be invested in upgradation of telecom networks and broadband is likely to witness Rs 1.25 trillion in investments during the plan period.

The group has attributed this investment to the substantial growth in the wireless subscriber base and has said that the current growth trend projects that India will have 1,200 million wireless subscribers by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan.

The group added that of the total subscriber base, 25 per cent will consist of 3G and 4G technology users and the broadband user base will reach 175 million by 2017.