New Delhi: India will revise the timetable for the global auction of third- and fourth-generation wireless spectrum for a second time, the telecoms ministry said late on Monday.
“The revised time line for auction of 3G and BWA (broadband wireless access) spectrum will be notified shortly,” the Department of Telecom said on its website (http://dot.gov.in), without elaborating.
The auction was originally scheduled to start from 16 January. Last month the telecoms ministry announced a delay until 30 January, citing requests from potential bidders for more time.
India’s cabinet is yet to take a final decision on a finance ministry proposal to double the base price for the auction and a further delay is possible.
India plans to conduct the auction for 3G spectrum in 20 of its 22 service areas and has said firms could bid for four slots in most of these areas.