DoT expedites spectrum allocation to telecom players, issues LoI

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is expediting spectrum allocation and has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to telecom players in this regard.

The auction of air waves was held in March and the government received around Rs 1.1 lakh crore from sale in four bands- 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz.

"As of now, we are expediting to allocate the spectrum which has already been auctioned this year... The Letter of Intent has been issued to all," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told PTI.

The government put around 470 MHz of spectrum for sale in the four bands and about 11% of the air waves remained unsold.

The LoI also has the effective date for the spectrum. Eight telecom operators participated in the auction and except Uninor, all of them won air waves. The government got upfront payment of over Rs 32,300 crore from telecom players against the spectrum sold. This was way above the minimum outstanding due of Rs 28,835.34 crore.
(Image: Reuters)