Govt Gets Rs 1100 Cr Through Spectrum Selling

Telecom operators Bharti Airtel, Jio and Vi have deposited around Rs 1,100 crore towards spectrum acquired in the recent auctions, as per media reports. The amount paid by Airtel and Vodafone Idea includes Rs 85 crore and Rs 30 crore respectively, paid by the telcos when they got spectrum allotment for the interim period before the auction.

As per the report, the news came after the demand notices issued on 16 July by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to the three telecom operators, asking them to pay the fee for the spectrum acquired in the recently concluded auctions.

The telecom operators can complete the payments either in 20 equal yearly installments or at one time. Telcos can also make a part payment upfront, which can be a multiple of complete years with a minimum of two years. Though, none of the operators chosed to go for upfront payment. 

As far as the selling of spectrum is concerned, in the spectrum auction in June, the government sold 141 MHz spectrum worth Rs11,340.8 crore.
Bharti Airtel purchased the maximum shares by paying Rs 6,857 crore. It bought a total of 97 MHz spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands.

Reliance Jio turned out to be in the third position, lower than Vodafone Idea. Jio spent Rs 973 crore to buy just 14.4 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, whereas Vodafone Idea bought 30 MHz spectrum worth Rs 3,510 crore.