NEW DELHI: The process of spectrum auction, including the one for 2G services, is expected to be completed within the first quarter of the next calendar year.
Finance Secretary R S Gujral said at an event organised here by CII that the Supreme Court had also the Department of Technology to complete the process in a period of three to four months, but the Department has said this is not feasible.
The Supreme Court on 2 February had cancelled 122 telecom licences awarded when A Raja was Telecom Minister. It termed them illegal and asked the government to conduct fresh auctions within four months.
The government in the Budget 2012-13 has estimated that Rs 400 billion would be raised through auction of spectrum, including the airwaves to be freed by cancellation of 122 licenses following the Supreme Court order.
Gujral said spectrum, apart from that for 2G services, is available with the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Defence.
DoT, in an application filed before the Supreme Court, has sought 400 days to complete the 2G auction process. DoT has mentioned that auctions can begin by 20 December and spectrum allocated to bidders in March next year.
