Cabinet Approves Next Round of Spectrum Auction, To Be Held in Mar

The the notice inviting applications will be issued in December itself.

5G and other bands to go under the hammer this year.

(Photo: iStock)

The Cabinet has approved the next round of spectrum auction, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced on Wednesday, 16 December.

Speaking at a media briefing, Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reportedly said that the conditions for the auction will be the same as in 2016, when the last auction took place.

"Cabinet approves auction of spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz frequency bands, for validity period of 20 years. A total of 2251.25 MHz is being offered with a total valuation of Rs. 3,92,332.70 crores," he was quoted as saying.

While the notice inviting applications will be issued in December, the auction is proposed to take place in March.

May Blacklist Some Telecom Equipment Vendors: Govt Amid China Row

Meanwhile, Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday approved the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that this decision was taken in order to maintain the integrity of supply chain security by designating a list of trusted sources or products for the benefit of telecom service providers.

The government said it will blacklist certain telecom equipment vendors and will make a list of trusted sources/products, reported NDTV.

The telecom sector is said to come up with a list of companies from where firms can buy products and services. They will designate these companies as "India Trusted Source". This moves comes amid tensions with China stemming from the standoff along the border.

However, there was no mention whether this move was targeted at Chinese vendors.

(With inputs from NDTV, ANI, PTI and CNBC.)