In Short:
The three major private telecom companies, Jio, Airtel, and Vi have collectively paid Rs 43. 5 billion as earnest money deposit for the upcoming spectrum auctions. Jio deposited the most at Rs 30 billion, followed by Airtel at Rs 10. 5 billion and Vi at Rs 3 billion. Jio has therefore been allocated the highest eligibility points for the auction (21,363), followed by Airtel (7,613) and Vi (2,200). This means that all three companies can bid on spectrum in any band and service area based on their eligibility points and spectrum caps. The spectrum auction consultation is expected to take place in the coming months, and these earnest money deposits demonstrate the commitment of these telecom companies to securing the necessary spectrum to meet the growing demand for data and voice services. With the increasing competition in the telecom industry, securing spectrum through these auctions is crucial for these companies to maintain and expand their market share. The auction is anticipated to be highly competitive, with the potential for significant financial implications for the successful bidders.
Private Telecom Operators Gear Up for Spectrum Auctions
The countdown has begun as the three major players in the telecom industry, namely Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi), have collectively deposited a whopping Rs 43.5 billion as earnest money deposit (EMD) for the upcoming spectrum auctions.
Deposit Breakdown
The stakes are high as per the documents filed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Leading the pack, Jio has put forward Rs 30 billion as EMD. Following closely behind, Airtel has deposited Rs 10.5 billion, while Vi has made deposits of Rs 3 billion.
Allocation of Eligibility Points
Jio, having made the highest deposit, has been granted the highest eligibility points for the upcoming auction. According to the details shared by DoT, Jio leads with 21,363 eligibility points, trailed by Airtel with 7,613 points and Vi with 2,200 points. This indicates that all three operators are gearing up to bid in any band across service areas, based on their eligibility points and spectrum caps.
