3G spectrum auction is delayed. It will not happen during this financial year. It will happen sometime in the second quarter of the next financial year. Despite best efforts of the telecom ministry, certain issues including availability of spectrum and number of slots to be auctioned, needed to be resolved before the auction process. These issues also needed to be legally vetted. Union Communications Minister for Communications and IT, A Raja speaks to TelecomTiger about the status of 3G auction process.

Q: What is the status on 3G spectrum auction?

A: We want to do 3G auction as early as possible. However, there were a lot of issues that needed legal vetting before we could proceed for the auction. We sent file to the law ministry for vetting.

Q: Has the law ministry approved the file?

A: I do not know much about it. I am told that the law ministry has already sent the file to the finance ministry.

Q: What are the issues where you needed vetting from law ministry?

A: I can not tell you about all the issues in detail. I would say that the whole auction process needed vetting from law ministry.

Q: Does it mean that the auction process will get delayed?

A: Earlier, the date of auction was January 10. Later, we rescheduled it for February 9. Under present circumstances I do not think that the auction could be held on February 9.

Q: Do you think 3G auction should take place even if the spectrum is not available?

A: My personal opinion is that price quoted in the bidding would be higher if spectrum is also available at the time of bidding. However, the EGOM looks into all the issues and its decision is final.