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5G Spectrum Auction: Day 2 Bidding Ends On High Note | Highlights

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 Updates: After a better-than-expected response from players on the opening day, the 5G spectrum auctions end on a higher note on Wednesday.

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: The auction entails the 600, 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2500, 3300 MHz and 26GHz bands.

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 Updates: After a better-than-expected response from players on the opening day, the 5G spectrum auctions entered the second day on Wednesday, with the fifth round of bidding. The day-two of the bidding process began at 10 AM and concluded at 6 PM. Firms run by tycoons Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Gautam Adani bid about Rs 1.45 lakh crore to buy fifth-generation (5G) airwaves on the opening day on Tuesday. In all the auction is being held for spectrum in various low (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz), mid (3,300 MHz) and high (26 GHz) frequency bands. A total of 72 GHz (gigahertz) of radiowaves worth at least Rs 4.3 lakh crore is up for bidding. The auction will continue on Wednesday, and is likely to conclude tomorrow itself.

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6:21 PM IST

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3:57 PM IST

Interest in pricey 700MHz band means enhanced 5G indoor coverage for Indians | As India saw a record 5G spectrum auction for 72 GHz (gigahertz) of airwaves at Rs 4.3 lakh crore on day one, analysts said that one of the surprising turns was the attention gained by the 700MHz band, which was left unsold in the last auctions. The costliest 700 MHz band is ideal for coverage in high-density areas and deep data networks. According to analysts, this band received bids worth nearly Rs 39,000 crore led by Reliance Jio. Pulkit Pandey, Principal Analyst, Gartner, told IANS that the interest in the 700 MHz band by the telecom companies “indicates the communications service providers (CSPs) are focusing on enhanced indoor coverage, where the 700 MHz band could play a crucial role”.
2:55 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: Devroop Dhar, Co-Founder and Board Member, Primus Partners, said that with estimations of 500 million 5G subscribers by 2027 and the internet carrying 56 per cent of India’s traffic, Reliance Jio has been the frontrunner of the 5G spectrum race in India followed by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks.

“With only about 30 per cent of the towers fiberised and less than 7 per cent of households connected through fibre, companies must not simply focus on the spectrum but also give the same importance to the subsequent infrastructure,” Dhar said.
2:45 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: Speaking to news agency IANS about the auction, Pulkit Pandey, Principal Analyst, Gartner, said that the interest in the 700 MHz band by the telecom companies “indicates the communications service providers (CSPs) are focusing on enhanced indoor coverage, where the 700 MHz band could play a crucial role”.

“This band could also help CSPs to provide standalone 5G services and introduce network slicing. This could be an indication for CSPs trying to also start working on standalone 5G,” Pandey added.
2:23 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: As India saw a record 5G spectrum auction for 72 GHz (gigahertz) of airwaves at Rs 4.3 lakh crore on day one, analysts said on Wednesday that one of the surprising turns was the attention gained by the 700MHz band, which was left unsold in the last auctions. The costliest 700 MHz band is ideal for coverage in high-density areas and deep data networks. According to analysts, this band received bids worth nearly Rs 39,000 crore led by Reliance Jio.
1:13 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: “Bharti Airtel may have bid for spectrum worth Rs 45,000 crore, spending 20 per cent more than expected, possibly in 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands. Vodafone Idea Ltd has likely bid for Rs 18,400 crore for spectrum, while Adani Data Networks should have picked 26GHz spectrum pan-India,” ICICI Securities said. said.
1:12 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: Nomura said at the current overall bid value, the government could garner Rs 13,000 crore in upfront payments in the current fiscal and a similar amount annually over the next 19 years.
1:10 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: “It appears Adani has bought 26GHz spectrum in 20 circles (except in Delhi and Kolkata), and its total spectrum purchase could be 3350MHz for Rs 900 crore. Our estimate is provisional data does not reflect the entire purchase by Adani. We believe it should have purchased 200MHz spectrum in all circles except Gujarat where it would have bought 400MHz,” ICICI Securities said.
1:09 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: Analysts said Ambani’s Reliance Jio may be the most aggressive of those in the race. Though details of the bids are not announced as yet, ICICI Securities said its analysis shows that Jio has likely bid for the highest spectrum worth Rs 80,100 crore, and likely opted for 10MHz spectrum in the premium 700MHz band.
12:51 PM IST

5G Spectrum Auction Day 2 LIVE: The government will allocate the spectrum in record time and 5G services are expected to be rolled out by September.