Top mobile phone companies Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio Infocomm are eyeing auctions for bandwidth in the 700 MHz band expected in 2014, rather than in the 1800 MHz band, said three senior officials at incumbent Indian telecom operators.
Most telecom companies are currently stretched for cash, and hence would largely be on the sidelines during the upcoming 1800 MHz auctions, they said, asking not to be identified since these are competition sensitive strategies. They added that operators such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India, holding spectrum in the more expensive but efficient 900 Mhz, are hopeful of a court judgement allowing extensions in circles where their licences expire late 2014, thus relieving them from the prospects of bruising auctions in that band.
A well-placed official at Idea Cellular said the Aditya Birla group company is "keenly" awaiting availability of the 700 MHz band.
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Most telecom companies are currently stretched for cash, and hence would largely be on the sidelines during the upcoming 1800 MHz auctions, they said, asking not to be identified since these are competition sensitive strategies. They added that operators such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India, holding spectrum in the more expensive but efficient 900 Mhz, are hopeful of a court judgement allowing extensions in circles where their licences expire late 2014, thus relieving them from the prospects of bruising auctions in that band.
A well-placed official at Idea Cellular said the Aditya Birla group company is "keenly" awaiting availability of the 700 MHz band.
Read More