Spectrum Auction

Planned FY24 spectrum sale round drives non-tax revenue goal from telecom

Officials said deferred spectrum charges to be paid by telcos also make up a large chunk of the expected revenues

Review spectrum pricing mechanism for captive users: CAG to DoT

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to review the spectrum pricing mechanism for captive users

Trai slashes 5G spectrum base price in 3300-3670 MHz band by around 36%

Since last year, telecom companies have carried out 5G trials in the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz bands

Trai recommends 36% reduction in base price of prime 5G spectrum

The government is aiming to begin roll-out of 5G services by end-March 2023 in India, which is the world's second-biggest wireless market with over a billion subscribers

Airtel prepays Rs 8,815 cr of spectrum dues to reduce interest expenses

This is the second such prepayment by Airtel in the last three months and comes on the back of strong cash flow generation, equity infusion and borrowing at significantly lower interest rates

Airtel prepays Rs 8,815 cr towards deferred liabilities for 2015 spectrum

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Friday said it has paid Rs 8,815 crore to the government towards part prepayment of deferred liabilities pertaining to spectrum acquired in the 2015 auction. The prepayment is for instalments due in FY2027 and FY2028, the Sunil Mittal-led telco said in a statement. "Airtel prepays Rs 8,815 crore to clear deferred liabilities for spectrum acquired in 2015," the company said. Over the last four months, Airtel has cleared Rs 24,334 crore of its deferred spectrum liabilities ahead of schedule. These liabilities carried an interest rate of 10 per cent and have been paid off through a combination of free cash generated by the business, equity proceeds, and significantly lower cost debt of a similar tenor. Airtel said it continues to focus on financial flexibility via its capital structure, including optimising the cost of financing and capitalising on all opportunities of significant interest saves, like the latest prepayment.

Telecom companies push for 90-95% cut in base price of 5G spectrum

Telcos seek easy payment terms of 20-25 years, with 5-6 years of moratorium

Telecom firms staring at possibility of excess backhaul spectrum fee

Currently, DoT allocates airwaves by administered price mechanism

Best of BS Opinion: Backsliding without broadband, Covid-19 vaccine & more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Backsliding without broadband

We are losing out on so much of our potential because of regulatory constraints

Vodafone Idea plans to raise $750 million via convertible debentures

Promoters to dilute stake post conversion

Statsguru: Key takeaways from the 4G telecom spectrum bidding

In a market of 1.3 billion with only about a half having access to mobile broadband, the untapped user base still holds much promise

Best of BS Opinion: Wasted spectrum, Business before Atmanirbhar & more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Govt may cut reserve price of spectrum ahead of the 5G auction: CLSA

Reserve price for future auction could be cut, says CLSA

Top headlines: India Inc earnings estimate upgrade, India woos Tesla

Reliance Jio has bagged more than 50 per cent of the total quantum of airwaves sold by paying Rs 57,122.65 crore. Of the 855.6 megahertz of spectrum sold, Jio has got 488 megahertz

Half of telecom spectrum sold goes to Reliance Jio at Rs 57,122 crore

DoT may garner Rs 20,000 crore as upfront payment in FY21

Spectrum auction surpassed estimates; industry's debt levels to rise: ICRA

The results of telecom spectrum auctions, that grossed over Rs 77,800 crore, have "exceeded" initial estimates, ICRA said on Tuesday. While the value of sales was just 19 per cent of the value of total spectrum on offer, the debt levels of the industry are expected to rise further, post the auctions, and the debt protection metrics would continue to remain weak despite improvement in operating metrics, it said. Commenting on the telecom spectrum auctions, Ankit Jain, Assistant Vice-President, ICRA, said that the outcome exceeded earlier estimates and have fetched the exchequer around Rs 77,800 crore of which around Rs 28,000 crore will have to be paid upfront. "The telcos not only bid for renewals of the expiring spectrum but focused on consolidating their spectrum holdings in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 2300 MHz bands. While the sub-GHz bands will be crucial for 5G technology deployment going forward as well as improvement of indoor coverage, the appetite for 2300 MHz band stems from

Spectrum auctions: Jio says total owned airwaves footprint up significantly

Reliance Jio said its acquired spectrum can be utilised for transition to 5G services at the ''appropriate time'', where it has developed its own 5G stack

Spectrum auction: Telcos place bids worth Rs 77,815 cr; Jio biggest buyer

About one-third of the spectrum being auctioned is in the 700 MHz band, which was completely unsold during the 2016 auctions

Airtel buys Rs 18,699-cr radiowaves; Voda acquires spectrum in 5 circles

The auction, which put on offer a total of 2308.80 MHz of spectrum worth Rs 4 lakh crore in seven bands, concluded on Tuesday, just a day after it commenced