3G auction may take place in Feb

Contrary to general perception that 3G service auction will be completed by January, the DoT’s new draft information memorandum for the auctioning process reportedly plans to conduct the auctions for WiMAX and 3G in separate phases with WIMAX auctioning preceding 3G by a month.

The move stands in contrast to DoT’s earlier stand of conducting simultaneous auctioning for WiMAX and 3G so as to avoid any price manipulation by the bidders.

The draft says that auctioning for WiMAX may be held on January 16 while those for 3G to be held on February 9.

Additionally WiMAX players will have to cough up only 1 percent of their annual revenues towards renewal fees while 3G players will have to pay 2 percent, say reports.

Also to ensure level playing field, the draft proposes to restrict anti-competitive measures like tie-up of software solution providers and vendors with the operators for WiMAX.

Official announcement regarding the complete time table for the process is expected soon.

Source : Telecom Tiger