3G Auction Likely to Be Delayed Again

Techtree News Staff, Jul 03, 2009 1300 hrs IST

What? Not again!

Indicating further delay, Andimuthu Raja told lawmakers in the upper house of Parliament that there are two roadblocks in the 3G auctions.

- What will be the number of slots going to be auctioned?

- What is the base price for each slot?

The auction of 3G wireless spectrum will start within three months after the government finalizes the number of slots and the floor price for each, said the telecom minister.

He said that a committee of ministers would be constituted to consider the issues. "I hope it will be settled within a fortnight as soon as the committee is constituted," he said.

As per the initial guidelines issued last year, the government planned to conduct the auction for 20 of India's 22 telecoms zones and had said firms could bid for four slots in most of these areas.

Source: CXOtoday.com

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USER COMMENTS

What is the urgency of 3G except to the service providers who want to make money by showing us TV through the key hole of a mobile phone? I prefer to watch TV in my drawing rooom. Spectrum is a national nondepletable resource and should not be SOLD. If at all there is an auction, it should be for RENTING it for a certain period like say 5 years and new auction should be held before the expiry of the hiring period. Spectrum is going to be valued more and more as technology develops. Do not be in a hrry to SELL your heritage. Let Raja first get himself cleared from an alleged impropriety of approach with a judge of a High Court.

by Gangadhar G. Ba, Mumbai, on Jul 05, 2009 06:12 AM, Report abuse Reply

3G is not just about TV dude There are ppl who badly need internet on the go and current gprs and edge speeds are pathetic

by Sandeep, Pune, on Jul 05, 2009 12:04 PM, Report abuse

mr gangadhar, talk practical, dont be a bookworm, 3G doesnt solely stand for mobile televiewing, it features video conferencing, video calling, most importantly high speed data access, and many more features. what is spectrum?? not a natural resource, will not diminish on usage. and absolutely not a national heritage. mr raja is being driven by beureaucrats. i think he is tech-illeterate. ministers are made according to compromises, vote banks, political diversifications. not by their abilities.

by naveenchaudhary, meerut, on Jul 06, 2009 12:37 PM, Report abuse

If you don't know what you're talking why don't you just shut up..!!!!.... Spectrum isn't petroleum. And what do you propose to do with spectrum if you don't intend to use it? And by renting it, you're just creating more opportunities for corruption, red tape etc. Everybody wants 3G. Nobody wants to lock up the airspace in the country and say "ITS OUR HERITAGE>>!!!". And like somebody said, 3G isn't just television. It's a technology. Do you have absolutely any idea how it can be applied and used? Do everybody a favour and go to Wikipedia before you shoot your mouth off. Off the top of my head, 3G can be used for broadband internet access, even to the remotest parts, and hence reducing the cost and effort put into laying cables, or by connecting remote place to the rest of the world, where laying cables isn't practical. Or significantly improving rural connectivity. More applicable to us - getting real high speed internet access - every techie's dream.

by Apocalypse, Pune, on Jul 30, 2009 06:57 PM, Report abuse

As long as Raja remains in Telecom Ministry the industry will not progress. Enough has been heard on 3G but seems nothing is happening except charges against Raja in his last term and Manmohan Singh being WEAK PM gave him the ministry again despite CONgress having good numbers

by Kumar, Mumbai, on Jul 08, 2009 02:59 PM, Report abuse Reply

thats why India is a 3rd world coutry...............

by Ankit, kolkata, on Jul 03, 2009 06:10 PM, Report abuse Reply

All the comments on my earlier blog are from non-technical usera who are so busy that they can not imagine lack of communication even while being mobile--either highly paid executives not wishing to loose a single second or just rich idle playboys. All in small number compared to the vast mass who want basic communication only. Once a radio frequency is used over the territory of India, it can not be used by any one else and so it is the nations permanent wealth because even aftter thousands of years of use it is still available. Video conferencing, is also television--viewing at a distance. Let decisions concerning technical matters be left to those who know the technology such as TRAI, and not Rajas.

by Gangadhar Barve, Mumbai, on Jul 07, 2009 01:00 PM, Report abuse

His incompetence was there for everyone to see even in the last ministry,but congress could not keep him out in spite of getting such clear mandate..what a shame.

by George, Cochin, on Jul 03, 2009 04:46 PM, Report abuse Reply

instead of raja, Dayanidhi Maran was good as Telco. Minister. If he were the minister, 3G could have been implemented and launched in India.

by naveenchaudhary, meerut, on Jul 03, 2009 05:30 PM, Report abuse

This is the indian baboooooooos work

by Santy, Mumbai, on Jul 03, 2009 04:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

our telecom minister is a jackass, really what took so long in 3G auction and other formalities?? sure he is a corrupt person. else minister doesnt have any roadblocks. well people know everything.

by naveenchaudhary, meerut, on Jul 03, 2009 01:53 PM, Report abuse Reply