The Silicon Review ^Asia

Government-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) may soon provide 4G services to users all over India as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allotted the telco fresh Pan India liberalized spectrum. The DoT released the notice inviting applications (NIA) for Spectrum Auction 2021 which will be held in March.

BSNL has been allotted block of 5 MHz in the 2100 MHz band in 20 telecom circles, including Mumbai but excluding Delhi and Rajasthan. It has been allotted a 5 MHz block in the 850 MHz band in Rajasthan and a 10 MHz block in the 1800 MHz band in Delhi circle with 20 years validity up to 2040, the company’s report stated.

Reliance Jio is expected to show maximum participation in the auction owing to the soon to expire airwaves in about 12 to 14 telecom circles starting July 2021. Further, Airtel and Vi may not go big on the spectrum auction and there are fewer chances of a bidding war due to the large availability of spectrum. Earlier this week, Vi re-farmed the 3G spectrum to 4G across all sites in Mumbai.