Department of Telecommunications in India may auction more bandwidth to provide wireless broadband services

Government aims to further boost stretched finances by selling more airwaves.


India's Department of Telecommunications may auction more bandwidth to provide wireless broadband services during the current financial year through March, a top federal official said Wednesday.

"I can't say specifically at this point of time what the exact time frame will be" for the auction, Telecom Secretary R. Chandrashekhar told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event."We are trying our best to expedite [the process] as much as possible."

Last year, the government generated $8.23 billion by auctioning two slots of wireless broadband bandwidth. Selling more airwaves will help the government boost its stretched finances.

The bandwidth allows telecom operators to provide high-speed Internet access, as well as Internet telephony and television services. More importantly, the auction winners can eventually use the bandwidth for voice and high-speed data services, amid uncertainty over the granting of more second- and third-generation radio bandwidth.

Chandrashekhar said the department is trying to put together pan-India bandwidth slots before deciding on the auctions.

A top government official had said in March that the government expects to get INR130 billion from bandwidth sale to telecom companies during this fiscal year.




(C) Total Telecom