The biggest bidder in the Spectrum auction 2021 was Reliance Jio with Rs 57,122.65 crores for 488. 35MHz spectrum (Gadgets 360). This information was conveyed by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology in a statement. Reliance Jio after the latest bidding witnessed that the company’s spectrum footprint increased by 55 percent. With the spectrum increased to 1711MHz, the operator became the largest spectrum holder in sub-GHz and 2300MHz. In the Spectrum auction 2021, Bharti Airtel emerged as the second-largest bidder after Jio acquiring 355.45MHz of airwaves worth Rs 18,698.75 crores.
Spectrum auction 2021 came to an end on 2nd March 2021. There were a total of six bidding rounds in Spectrum auction 2021 and the e-auction this time was based on Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending Auction (SMRA) methodology. The total worth of bids fetched in Spectrum auction 2021 is Rs 77,814.80 crores for 855.60MHz. And, this time the auction went “better than expected” as mentioned by the auction officials.
Bidding in Spectrum auction 2021
The three main bidders in Spectrum auction 2021 that has put airwaves in 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, and 2300MHz bands on bidding are Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone (Vi). The ministry also informed that there was no bidding for 700MHz and 2500MHz bands. The government put out a total spectrum of 2308.80MHz for auction. The bidders in a total bid for 855.60MHz spectrum which sums up to 60 percent of the total spectrum offered.
Reliance on bidding
The Spectrum auction 2021 was exclusively for the 4G bands and the government plans to throw another auction specifically for 5G bands. So, even if Jio has emerged out to be the largest bidder in this auction, the operator still needs to wait for the 5G bidding auction for its 5G services. Many other operators are also making progress in the 5G network technology as well.
Reliance Jio has mentioned in a statement that the company has acquired the right to use spectrum in 22 circles across the country in the recently concluded spectrum auctions (Gadgets 360). And, this acquired spectrum will be very beneficial for the 5G services that will be provided to the Jio users in the country for transactions in 5G. But, the latest Spectrum auction 2021 was all about 4G bands. Mukesh Ambani, Chairperson of Reliance Industries mentioned in a statement that with this increase in the spectrum, the company tends to expand its digital footprint in more parts of India and prepare for the 5G rollout.
Airtel expanding its spectrum
Airtel after becoming the second largest bidder in the auction mentioned that the company acquired 355.45MHz spectrum across sub-GHz, mid-band, and 2300MHz. This huge expansion in the spectrum will help Airtel bring around 90 million additional customers onboard. Gopal Vittal, CEO and MD of Indian and South Asia, Bharti Airtel said that the company now has a very solid spectrum portfolio and this will enable the operator to deliver the “best mobile broadband experience in India.”
Apart from mentioning the future plans of Airtel in India and its spectrum expansion, the operator explained why no bidders went for the 700MHz spectrum band. The main reason behind this is an absence of the economic case which is based on the high reserve prices concerning the 700MHz spectrum. This is a low-frequency band that is extensively used for bolstering inner cellular coverage.
The company also mentioned that the reserving prices, particularly on this band, should be a focus point of discussion in near future. Because, if this band is coupled with the 3.5GHz band it will unleash the potential of India becoming one of the nations in terms of the digital era. So, this is a very important issue that should be addressed by the government at the earliest as the nation will benefit hugely if these reserving price tags are taken off.
Apart from the bidding by Reliance Jio and Airtel, Vodafone was also one of the bidders. The company came last in the list with an 11.80MHz spectrum band worth Rs 1,993.40 crores. The government officials have mentioned that the spectrum of each operator will be valid for 20 years from now.
Annasha Dey is an NIT student, who apart from studying engineering is also a content writer. She has a great interest in photography, writing, reading novels, and travelling as well. She is a foodie who loves socializing and hanging out with her friends. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and a big fashion enthusiast. Dey also loves watching TV series, which includes F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and Big Bang Theory. To be a better writer she prefers to read more