Spectrum auction may not find many takers

The biggest ever auction for airwaves is an opportunity for telcos to shore up their spectrum bank and prepare for the imminent data war that is likely to ensue with the launch of Reliance Jio´s services.
However, the big 3 telcos will not bid for 700 Mhz band, putting at risk 74 per cent of the government´s estimated spectrum proceeds.
Over 2,000 Mhz of airwaves will be available across spectrum bands from 700 Mhz to 2,500 Mhz. The talking point, of course, is the reserve price of Rs.11,485 crore per Mhz for the 700 Mhz band. This is much coveted spectrum, given that it costs 70 per cent cent less to offer services on this band than, say, a 2,100 Mhz band.