5G Auction Updates: Jio buys Rs 88,078 Spectrum, Airtel spends Rs 43,084 | Digit

The 5G spectrum auction ended in India on Monday with Reliance led by Mukesh Ambani acquiring 24,740 MHz spectrum worth Rs 88,078 crore.

5G spectrum auction concluded in the country on August 1, 2022. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio got the highest bids acquiring 24,740MHz spectrum worth Rs 88,078 crore. Next was Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Airtel that spent Rs 43,084 crore for 19867.8MHz of the spectrum.  Additionally, Vodafone and  Idea, acquired 3300MHz in the mid-band 5G spectrum in 17 priority circles and 26GHz in the mmWave 5G spectrum.

Rs 1,50,173 crore for 71 percent of total 5G airwaves spectrum were acquired by Adani and other Telecom groups. 

India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo mentioned that the 5G auction will lead to boosting the already booming 5G mobile handset market in our country.

Here are some details regarding multiple brands

Jio at 5G auction

The company has acquired 220 units of 700MHz band, 20 units of 800MHz band, 60 units of 1899MHz band, 2440 units of 3300MHz band and 22,000 units. Adding 24,740MHz of spectrum that accounts for Rs 7,877 annually excluding the 7.2 percent interest that the company has to pay over and above this.

Jio said that it acquired a special combination of low-band, mid-band and mmWave spectrum, coupled with its fibre network which will enable the company to provide 5G connectivity for consumers as well for enterprises.

Vodafone Idea at 5G auction

Vi has acquired 3300MHz in the mid band 5G spectrum in its 17 priority circles and 26GHz in mmWave 5G spectrum in its 16 circles. Vi mentioned that this move will enable it to offer 5G customers while enhancing its enterprise services.

Additionally  the company also acquired 4G spectrum in three circles of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab.

Airtel at 5G auction

Airtel  was the second biggest spender at the 5G spectrum auction in our country. The company acquired 19,800MHz of the 5G spectrum in the 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands. With this, the company also acquired  5G airwaves in the mid-band spectrum. Rs 43,084 crore were spent for purchasing 5G airwaves for a span of 20 years.

Airtel said that it has accumulated a big pool of low and mid band spectrum (Sub Ghz/1800/2100/2300 bands) which can be used to help 5G coverage and huge capacities in the 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands will enable the company to ‘create 100X capacities at the least cost’.

Adani Group at 5G auction

As per a report by The Economic Times, Gautam Adani’s Adani Data Networks spent Rs 212 crore to acquire 400MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz band.