Any person who holds a UAS/CMTS license, or who has previous experience of running 3G telecom services and gives an undertaking to obtain unified access services license (UASL) as per department of telecommunications guidelines dated Dec. 14, 2005 before starting telecom operations, can bid for 3G spectrum through a controlled simultaneous ascending e-auction, the minister disclosed.

Scindia further said that the spectrum would be auctioned in blocks of 2x5 MHz in 2.1 GHz band and added that the number of blocks to be auctioned would vary subject to availability in different telecom service areas. The spectrum according to the minister would be granted through a controlled simultaneous ascending e-auction to the successful bidder.

One block of 2x5 MHz in 2.1 GHz band has already been allocated to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) in metro service areas of Delhi while other is provided to BSNL in other service areas at a price equal to the highest bid price determined through e-auction in the respective service area.