\"<p>FILE
FILE PHOTO: 3d printed objects representing 5G are put on a motherboard in this picture illustration taken April 24, 2020. REUTERS\/Dado Ruvic \/Illustration\/\/File Photo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>Kolkata: Bids for 5G<\/a> airwaves crossed the Rs 1.5 lakh-crore mark on the sixth day of the spectrum auction<\/a>, with the government netting Rs 163 crore more on Sunday. Action was focused on the key Uttar Pradesh (East) market, where the competition heated up again, after a day’s lull, for the 1800 MHz band.

The government’s total collections rose to Rs 1,50,130 crore at end of day 6, with bidding set to resume on Monday with round 38.

The per unit price of 1800 MHz spectrum in Uttar Pradesh (East) circle jumped to Rs 160.57 crore — now almost 76.5% higher than its Rs 91 crore per MHz base price.

The current auction price for 1800 MHz in the circle is, in fact, well above the Rs 153-crore per MHz base price of the March 2021 auction.

\"\"
<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Buying at a premium
<\/strong>
Auction trackers pointed out that in the 2021 sale,
Reliance Jio<\/a> Infocomm and Bharti Airtel<\/a> spent Rs 551 crore and Rs 490 crore to buy 3.6 MHz and 3.2 MHz, respectively, in the key circle’s 1800 MHz band, but that was at the then reserve price of Rs 153 crore. This time, the buyers will be acquiring airwaves in the band at a hefty premium — amid a bidding duel that has been underway for the past five days.

The outcome is vital for Airtel as it fights rival Jio to protect its turf in India’s most populous circle, where some of its premium 900 MHz airwaves will expire in February 2024. This is more so since Jio is reckoned to have bought 10 units of super-efficient 700 MHz spectrum across India, including in UP (East).

“Clearly, the UP (East) fight seems to have become an ego battle between the top two telcos, with neither willing to relent just yet, given the strategic importance of the market,” a top telco executive told ET.

\"Government<\/a><\/figure>

Government mop-up grows by Rs 112-crore, UP (E) 1800 MHz race eases<\/a><\/h2>

“Demand for 1800 MHz in the UP (East) circle was more subdued today, which suggests the auction may end soon,” a top telco executive, who didn’t want to be named, told ET.<\/p><\/div>

\"&lt;p&gt;FILE
FILE PHOTO: 3d printed objects representing 5G are put on a motherboard in this picture illustration taken April 24, 2020. REUTERS\/Dado Ruvic \/Illustration\/\/File Photo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>Kolkata: Bids for 5G<\/a> airwaves crossed the Rs 1.5 lakh-crore mark on the sixth day of the spectrum auction<\/a>, with the government netting Rs 163 crore more on Sunday. Action was focused on the key Uttar Pradesh (East) market, where the competition heated up again, after a day’s lull, for the 1800 MHz band.

The government’s total collections rose to Rs 1,50,130 crore at end of day 6, with bidding set to resume on Monday with round 38.

The per unit price of 1800 MHz spectrum in Uttar Pradesh (East) circle jumped to Rs 160.57 crore — now almost 76.5% higher than its Rs 91 crore per MHz base price.

The current auction price for 1800 MHz in the circle is, in fact, well above the Rs 153-crore per MHz base price of the March 2021 auction.

\"\"
<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Buying at a premium
<\/strong>
Auction trackers pointed out that in the 2021 sale,
Reliance Jio<\/a> Infocomm and Bharti Airtel<\/a> spent Rs 551 crore and Rs 490 crore to buy 3.6 MHz and 3.2 MHz, respectively, in the key circle’s 1800 MHz band, but that was at the then reserve price of Rs 153 crore. This time, the buyers will be acquiring airwaves in the band at a hefty premium — amid a bidding duel that has been underway for the past five days.

The outcome is vital for Airtel as it fights rival Jio to protect its turf in India’s most populous circle, where some of its premium 900 MHz airwaves will expire in February 2024. This is more so since Jio is reckoned to have bought 10 units of super-efficient 700 MHz spectrum across India, including in UP (East).

“Clearly, the UP (East) fight seems to have become an ego battle between the top two telcos, with neither willing to relent just yet, given the strategic importance of the market,” a top telco executive told ET.

\"Government<\/a><\/figure>

Government mop-up grows by Rs 112-crore, UP (E) 1800 MHz race eases<\/a><\/h2>

“Demand for 1800 MHz in the UP (East) circle was more subdued today, which suggests the auction may end soon,” a top telco executive, who didn’t want to be named, told ET.<\/p><\/div>