Telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will bid for spectrum at the auction from June 6, with a base price of approximately ₹96,317 crore.

The auction will include airwaves in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 2,500 MHz, 3,300 MHz and 26 GHz bands.

The last auction held in 2022 had the Adani Group firm as a surprise bidder but there is no new name in the upcoming sale.

Successful bidders will be granted spectrum rights for 20 years, with provisions allowing for payments to be made in 20 equal annual instalments.

Moreover, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has permitted bidders to relinquish spectrum after a minimum of 10 years.

The last date for withdrawal of applications is May 17, and the final list of bidders will be declared on May 20.

Availability of only 50 MHz of 5G spectrum in the 3.3 GHz band in 12 major markets and 20 MHz in another five has reduced the business case for quality 5G networks, analysts said.

Analysts said the forthcoming auction would be a muted affair and are likely to see Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea buy airwaves to renew their older licenses that will expire in the 4G band in 1800 MHz and 900 MHz.

They estimated that the government could earn about ₹18,000 crore from the auction which is 19 per cent of the radio waves being sold at base price.

Renewal of spectrum is due in 900 and 1800 MHz bands in eight circles – Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Odisha in February.

Analysts said Airtel is likely to spend ₹12,300 crore to renew and buy extra spectrum in 2300 Mhz and Vodafone Idea will fork out ₹1,500 crore in the renewal of expiring airwaves.

Reliance Jio, which has enough 5G spectrum and no renewal till 2030, could spend about ₹3,700 crore in case it buys 800 Mhz.

During India's first 5G auction in July 2022, the government successfully garnered over ₹1.5 lakh crore in revenue.

This historic sale encompassed the allocation of more than 72 GHz of airwaves for a 20-year term, spanning across 10 5G bands. The total worth of these airwaves at reserve prices amounted to a staggering ₹4.3 lakh crore.

Ownership data

Ownership details of the three bidders were released on Friday: Reliance Jio has a net worth of ₹2,31,121 crore, Bharti Airtel, ₹86,260 crore, while Vodafone has a negative net worth of ₹1,16,886 crore.