MUMBAI: India will kick off its first ever auction of 5G<\/a> spectrum on Tuesday with 72 GHz of airwaves across 10 bands worth Rs 4.3 lakh crore at base price up for grabs for telcos like Reliance Jio<\/a>, Bharti Airtel<\/a>, Vodafone Idea<\/a> and new entrant Adani<\/a> Data Networks.

While telecom market leader
Reliance<\/a> Jio<\/a> is expected to be the most aggressive participant, followed by second ranked Bharti Airtel<\/a>, cash-strapped Vodafone Idea is expected to go for limited airwaves and mostly in its 17 priority markets, say experts. They added that Adani is expected to buy only a little of spectrum for its captive network in some cities.

On offer are low-band airwaves (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz), mid-band, or C-band (3.3-3.67 GHz) and high band (26 GHz). The government had scrapped the spectrum usage charges (SUC) from the upcoming auctions, besides easing payment terms to spur bidding.

While the government stands to rake in Rs 4.3 lakh crore if all spectrum is sold at reserve prices,
industry<\/a> executives and analysts expect the proceeds from this auction to be around Rs 1-1.2 lakh crore, given that there are only two major bidders (Jio and Airtel), ample spectrum supplies and limited interest of Adani Group. Executives expect the sale to last a maximum of two days.

“We expect spectrum to be sold near reserve prices and estimate demand to range between US$13-20 billion (Rs 1-1.5 lakh crore) versus $54 billion (Rs 4.3 lakh crore) worth of spectrum being sold,” said Jefferies in a report.

It added that Jio will lead spending at $6-11 billion (Rs 48,000 crore to Rs 87,800 crore) followed by Bharti at $5-6 billion (Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 48,000 crore), with limited spending by Vodafone Idea and Adani Group.

With an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 14,000 crore, experts expect Jio to target 100 units of C-band (3.3-3.67 GHz) pan-India, 800-1,150 units of 26 GHz mmWaves (pan-India), along with some amounts of the 800 MHz band. Some analysts also expect Jio to buy 330 units (pan-India) 700 MHz airwaves. If that happens, then the band will be sold for the first time, having gone unsold in two previous auctions owing to its high base price.

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\"Fears<\/a><\/figure>

Fears of competition recede with Adani's low EMD: Analysts<\/a><\/h2>

“Market concerns over increase in competitive intensity in the telecom sector have eased with Adani’s modest EMD, and with the upcoming 5G rollouts, Airtel and Jio’s market share gains could accelerate further at Vi’s expense and the telecom market could end up as a virtual duopoly,” Nomura Research said.<\/p><\/div>

MUMBAI: India will kick off its first ever auction of 5G<\/a> spectrum on Tuesday with 72 GHz of airwaves across 10 bands worth Rs 4.3 lakh crore at base price up for grabs for telcos like Reliance Jio<\/a>, Bharti Airtel<\/a>, Vodafone Idea<\/a> and new entrant Adani<\/a> Data Networks.

While telecom market leader
Reliance<\/a> Jio<\/a> is expected to be the most aggressive participant, followed by second ranked Bharti Airtel<\/a>, cash-strapped Vodafone Idea is expected to go for limited airwaves and mostly in its 17 priority markets, say experts. They added that Adani is expected to buy only a little of spectrum for its captive network in some cities.

On offer are low-band airwaves (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz), mid-band, or C-band (3.3-3.67 GHz) and high band (26 GHz). The government had scrapped the spectrum usage charges (SUC) from the upcoming auctions, besides easing payment terms to spur bidding.

While the government stands to rake in Rs 4.3 lakh crore if all spectrum is sold at reserve prices,
industry<\/a> executives and analysts expect the proceeds from this auction to be around Rs 1-1.2 lakh crore, given that there are only two major bidders (Jio and Airtel), ample spectrum supplies and limited interest of Adani Group. Executives expect the sale to last a maximum of two days.

“We expect spectrum to be sold near reserve prices and estimate demand to range between US$13-20 billion (Rs 1-1.5 lakh crore) versus $54 billion (Rs 4.3 lakh crore) worth of spectrum being sold,” said Jefferies in a report.

It added that Jio will lead spending at $6-11 billion (Rs 48,000 crore to Rs 87,800 crore) followed by Bharti at $5-6 billion (Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 48,000 crore), with limited spending by Vodafone Idea and Adani Group.

With an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 14,000 crore, experts expect Jio to target 100 units of C-band (3.3-3.67 GHz) pan-India, 800-1,150 units of 26 GHz mmWaves (pan-India), along with some amounts of the 800 MHz band. Some analysts also expect Jio to buy 330 units (pan-India) 700 MHz airwaves. If that happens, then the band will be sold for the first time, having gone unsold in two previous auctions owing to its high base price.

<\/p>

\"Fears<\/a><\/figure>

Fears of competition recede with Adani's low EMD: Analysts<\/a><\/h2>

“Market concerns over increase in competitive intensity in the telecom sector have eased with Adani’s modest EMD, and with the upcoming 5G rollouts, Airtel and Jio’s market share gains could accelerate further at Vi’s expense and the telecom market could end up as a virtual duopoly,” Nomura Research said.<\/p><\/div>