NEW DELHI: As the government plans to conduct 3G spectrum auction along with 2G radiowaves sale in February, it has asked telecom regulator Trai to expedite the base price recommendations for it.“DoT requested Trai to expedite the process for its recommendations on the reserve price of 2100 Mhz band and related issues so that the auction of spectrum in this band could be conducted along with the auction of spectrum in the 800/900/1800 MHz bands scheduled in February 2015,” Trai said.

In the consultation paper today for valuation and reserve price of spectrum in 2100 MHz band, used for 3G services, the regulator has said that the Department of Telecom is in talks with the Defence Ministry for the vacation of the band and there are three possible scenarios under deliberation.

In case one, if no spectrum is released by the Defence, then auction can’t be conducted in this band. The second scenario is that it releases 5 MHz in 17 circles, in that case one block of 5 MHz spectrum will be available for auction in 17 circles. The third scenario could be the Defence swapping 2100 MHz spectrum with 1900 MHz. In that case, in addition to 5 MHz spectrum in 17 circles, it may release 15 MHz on pan-India basis by swapping 2100 Mhz spectrum with 1900 Mhz.

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