ORR Technology, LLC

India’s spectrum auction plans for WiMAX released

After much anticipation, the government of India has published policy and guidelines for initial 3G and WiMAX licenses. Spectrum will be auctioned in the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands for broadband wireless data services.

Entities eligible to bid for the spectrum include those holding or qualified for a Universal Access Services license or licensed category ‘A’ or ‘B’ ISPs. Licenses will be valid for 15-years with licensees paying 1% of gross revenues starting in during the second year. Two 20 MHz blocks in each band will be auctioned per telecom service area with a reserve price per MHz set at 25% of the 3G reserve price. Government telecom providers MTNL and BSNL were automatically granted one of the 20 MHz blocks (MTNL in the Delhi and Mumbai/Metro service areas; BSNL in all other service areas) at a price matching the highest auction bids in those service areas.

Additional information about India’s new spectrum for WiMAX can be found at WiMax.com