DoT shortlists three new firms for telecom spectrum auction

The Department of Telecom (DoT) on Thursday shortlisted three new technology firms for conducting spectrum auction, which is likely to be held in February.

DoT will open technical bids today (Nov 21), while the final selection of the auctioneer is scheduled for November 28.

The list issued by DoT features three companies - Kolkata based mjunction services, a consortium led by Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation and C1 India.

The auctioneer will be selected for 3 years and the contract can be further extended for a period of one year.

E-Procurement, the Gujarat-based IT firm which operated last three spectrum auctions held in November 2012, March 2013 and February 2014, did not feature in the list.

The IT company had participated earlier with Times Internet as the lead partner.

Noida-based technology firm C1 India has been awarded to conduct the proposed radiowave auction for 839 FM radio channels to be held in the current 2014-15 financial year.

The DoT is selecting auctioneer to operate auction of telecom spectrum across various bands - 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands.

The department will pay the auctioneer a percentage of difference between the reserve price of spectrum and final the price derived through the process as quoted by the auctioneer in its bid.