After the end of the India’s spectrum auction for 2023-24 that ended after 2 days and 7 rounds, the government got bids worth Rs. 11,340 core for a total quantum of 141.4 MHz spectrum (26.5%).
Total quantum of spectrum being auctioned was 10,522.35 MHz in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz bands, valued at Rs. 96,238.45 crore at reserve prices.
As auction for 5G spectrum was held recently & 5G Monetization is still in progress, no bidding took place in 800MHz, 2300MHz, 3300MHz and 26GHz bands, said the government.
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea successfully renewed their expired spectrum in 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands and further an additional quantum of 87.2 MHz worth Rs. 6164.88 crore has been acquired by TSPs to augment their services
| Name of the Bidder | 900 MHz | 1800 MHz | 2100 MHz | 2500 MHz | Total | Amount (Crore) |
| Bharti Airtel | 42 | 35 | 20 | 97 | 6856.76 | |
| Reliance Jio | 14.4 | 14.4 | 973.62 | |||
| Vodafone Idea | 18.8 | 1.2 | 10 | 30 | 3510.40 | |
| Grand Total | 50.6 | 20 | 10 | 141.4 | 11340.78 |
Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel has acquired 97 MHz spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands in the auction for a total of Rs. 6,857 crore. With this purchase, Bharti Airtel will continue to enjoy the largest mid-band spectrum pool in the country, said the company.
Out of the above, Bharti Hexacom Ltd has acquired 15 MHz with an outlay of Rs. 1,001 crore.
The company said that the spectrum purchase is in line with the company’s stated strategy to build a large pool of mid-band holding to deliver seamless 4G and 5G services across the country.
Airtel said that it has consistently been at the forefront of introducing disruptive technologies to India. As a result of the use of the mid-band spectrum, customers can enjoy enhanced browsing speeds in addition to improved indoor coverage, said the company.
Gopal Vittal – MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel said:
Airtel continues to judiciously acquire the right amount of spectrum to deliver the best possible experience to our customers. In this auction, we have bolstered our sub-giga hertz and mid-band holding which will significantly improve our coverage, especially indoor.
Vodafone Idea
Vodafone Idea acquired 30 MHz of spectrum across low band and mid-band spectrum (900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2500 MHz) in 11 circles at a total commitment of Rs. 3,510 Crore, in the auction.
In addition to renewal of 900 MHz spectrum in UP West and West Bengal circles, the company has also enhanced its 900 MHz spectrum holding in 7 circles, namely Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP East and Kolkata, enabling it to dedicate adequate 900 MHz band spectrum for 4G thereby enhancing the experience of its 4G customers in these large markets, particularly the indoor experience.
In circles of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (excluding Chennai), Punjab and large parts of Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh (East), 4G on sub GHz 900 band will be offered for the first time which will result in better coverage and experience, said the company.
In addition to 900 MHz spectrum, the company has also acquired 1800 MHz spectrum in Madhya Pradesh and 2500 MHz spectrum in Bihar, which will help in increasing the network capacity quickly. The company already holds sufficient and competitive 5G spectrum in its 17 priority circles.
Regarding this, Akshaya Moondra, CEO, Vodafone Idea Limited, said:
VIL has strategically acquired spectrum in the select markets to enhance and strengthen its overall spectrum portfolio. This acquisition will enable us to effectively use dedicated sub GHz spectrum towards advanced technologies to enhance the experience we offer to our customers. As VIL embarks on its growth journey with the fund-raising plan in place, this spectrum acquisition will further strengthen its competitive position in the market.
Reliance Jio
Reliance Jio that doesn’t have any spectrum renewals due this year acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in Bihar and West Bengal for Rs. 973.62 crore.
With this acquisition, Jio has expanded its 1800 MHz band spectrum in two circles. Jio’s spectrum footprint has increased to 26,801 MHz (uplink + downlink).
Jio said that it is the only operator in India to have access in low-band, mid-band and high-band (700 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26GHz) spectrum which gives it the unique advantage to provide a superlative experience to customers on 5G.
| Circle |
MHz (paired) |
Cost (Rs Crores) |
| Bihar |
5.0 |
420.25 |
| West Bengal |
9.4 |
553.38 |
| Total |
14.4 |
973.63 |
Akash M Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, said:
We have already demonstrated our commitment to the Digital India Vision by rolling out one of the world’s fastest and widest Stand Alone 5G networks within 12 months of allotment of spectrum. This new spectrum acquisition will continue to enable us serving aspirations of the new India, in terms of growing traffic demands and superior customer experience, which is no longer limited to only urban markets. We want every Indian to enjoy the transformational benefits of Jio’s next generation of digital solutions.