5G spectrum auction ends, Rs 1,49,855 cr bids received

New Delhi, July 29

The auction for the 5G spectrum concluded on Friday with the government receiving bids worth Rs 1,49,855 crore after 23 rounds of bidding. Seven rounds of bidding were conducted on Friday, the final day of the auction.

23 rounds of bidding held

• In all, 23 rounds of bidding were held over four days. Seven rounds were conducted on Friday, the final day of the auction
• At the end of the 3rd day of the bidding on Thursday, the total value of the bids stood at Rs 1,49,623 crore
• On the opening day of the auction on Tuesday, bids worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore were received
• Four firms —Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks — are in the fray

According to Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, the value of total bids received after 23rd round of the auction stood at Rs 1,49,855 crore. The auction for the 5G spectrum was conducted over four days. Friday was the fourth and the final day of the bidding.

At the end of the 3rd day of the bidding on Thursday, the total value of the bids stood at Rs 1,49,623 crore.

On the opening day of the auction on Tuesday, bids worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore were received. Four rounds of spectrum bidding were done on the first day. Wednesday saw five rounds of the auction, taking the total rounds to nine.

On the third day of the auction on Thursday, another seven rounds of auction were conducted taking the number to 16. The fourth day of the auction started with the 17th round.

At the end of the first day, the bid value stood at Rs 1.45 lakh crore. It rose to Rs 1,49,454 crore on the second day and further to Rs 1,49,623 crore at the end of the third day.

Four firms are in the fray for the 5G auction. These firms are - Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks Limited.

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has been the most aggressive in the bids followed by Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Airtel.

This is evident from the earnest money deposit (EMD) done by the firms. Put together, the four companies have deposited Rs 21,800 crore as EMD.

More than half of this amount is by Reliance Jio Infocomm, which is the largest telecom operator in India. Reliance Jio Infocomm has put in Rs 14,000 crore as EMD followed by Bharti Airtel at Rs 5,500 crore. — ANI

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