Just like natural resources are divided for their fair use, the spectrum is also required to be auctioned by the government. The government auctions it to those companies that can use it to offer several services and recoup their investments . The first spectrum auction in India was conducted for 900MHz band, in 1994.
Read moreIs 5G spectrum available in India?
Indians may have to wait until next year for 5G services to arrive , according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “Required spectrum auctions will be conducted in 2022 to facilitate roll-out of 5G mobile services within 2022-23,” she said in her 2022 budget speech on 1 February, 2022.
Read moreWho owns the spectrum in India?
BSNL paid the Indian government ₹ ₹101.87 billion (equivalent to ₹190 billion or US$2.5 billion in 2020) for spectrum in 20 circles and MTNL got spectrum for 3G services in 2 circles, Delhi and Mumbai.
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