CDMA spectrum reserve price cut 50% to woo bidders - Business Standard

		CDMA spectrum reserve price cut 50% to woo bidders Pan-Indian reserve price for 5 MHz CDMA spectrum now at Rs 9,100 cr BS Reporter / New Delhi Jan 18, 2013, 01:09 IST The Cabinet today approved a 50 per cent cut in the auction reserve price for the 800 MHz CDMA spectrum, a move likely to encourage Sistema Shyam Teleservices to participate in the auction process. "The Cabinet has approved 50 per cent reduction in CDMA spectrum (reserve) price, which was earlier fixed at Rs 18,200 crore (pan-India 5 MHz)," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said today. After the reduction in base price, the government has set a pan-India reserve price of Rs 9,100 crore for 800 MHz spectrum.   Also Read   - Markets surge led by oil refiners - Despite flip-flops, petrol decontrol has seen 31% hike - RCom,Tata Tele to be charged Rs 2,900 cr one-time spectrum fee - Need to redefine role of teachers: Pitroda - CBDT clarifies onsite software development not taxable More However, the 800 MHz band is unlikely to see much interest, as it is for CDMA services alone and the government would put a cap of 5 MHz in each circle. Also, after the March auction, the government wouldn't have any spectrum in the 800 MHz band, leaving no scope for operators to scale up operations. As operators would need at least 5 MHz for 3G and 4G services, this wouldn't benefit operators other than Sistema Shyam Teleservices, which has a pan-India CDMA network, with 2.5 MHz in each circle. The other CDMA companies, Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, are increasingly shifting their attention and investment to GSM operations. However, both Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices may bid for a few telecom zones. "The decision by the Cabinet to reduce the CDMA reserve price by 50 per cent clearly reflects the growing realisation that the demand for 800 MHz is very limited. The decision taken is a step in the right direction. However, ground realities suggest one would have expected much greater reduction," said a Sistema Shyam Teleservices spokesperson. In the auction in November, the government had failed to attract bidders for the 800 MHz spectrum, as the base price was too high. It is likely Sistema would have to spend about Rs 2,902 crore, which includes an adjustment of Rs 1,658 crore it had paid for the licence earlier. However, if the Supreme Court gives a favourable decision to Sistema on its curative petition to restore its licences, the government may fail to attract any bidder in the coming auction. If the government manages to sell the entire spectrum in the 800 MHz band, after adjustments, it would make about Rs 1,000 crore this financial year (a third of the final bid amount in the deferred payment option). Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said the auction of GSM and CDMA spectrum would be completed by March 31 and the markets would decide the revenue the government would get. The empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on telecom, which recommended the 50 per cent cut in CDMA reserve price, had earlier said 800 MHz spectrum would be auctioned after the auction of the 1,800 MHz and 900 MHz bands, which starts on March 11. Ashok Sud, secretary general, Association of Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India, said the government should have cut the price 75 per cent to keep CDMA reserve prices substantially lower than the GSM base price. New Ipad Application :Business Standard's all new IPad App Click here to download for free Other Stories      - Markets surge led by oil refiners - Despite flip-flops, petrol decontrol has seen 31% hike - RCom,Tata Tele to be charged Rs 2,900 cr one-time spectrum fee - Need to redefine role of teachers: Pitroda - CBDT clarifies onsite software development not taxable Tags : CDMA spectrum | Cabinet | Sistema Shyam Teleservices | Kapil Sibal | Reliance Communications | Tata Teleservices |   Read Business news in  Advertisements -  The Most Awarded Car. Book A Test Drive. Click here -  Experience North America like never before. Click here -  Markets Reports on Every Trading Day. Click here to know more -  Luxury villa and residence a haven of privacy & luxury. Click here -  Open a Sharekhan Online Trading and a Demat Account for FREE! -  You Could Win a Polo or a Vento in the 13th minute of any Hour. -  Mobile Number Portability Get Idea without Changing Number. Know more -  Flight Offers - Our Cheapest fares to London. Click here -  Deploy Applications on-premises or in the Cloud. Learn More. -  Creating Sustainable Homes, Cities and Happiness! Click here	via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGTQM1XykYaCNGAJX5xv2Ec-sMVwQ&url=http://business-standard.com/india/news/cdma-spectrum-reserve-price-cut-50-to-woo-bidders/499245/
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