The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) is believed to have decided to auction one extra block of CMDA spectrum, even as it has decided that the spectrum will remain valid for 20 years, according to CNBC-TV18

The EGoM, which met on June 5 is understood to have decided that decided that existing operators be allowed to bid for one block of 1.25 MHz.

The government proposes to auction at least 10 Mhz of spectrum in blocks of 1.25 Mhz each. It has decided to provide additional spectrum of up to 3.75 Mhz to ensure that entire 10 Mhz spectrum is sold through auction.

Department of Telecom (DoT) officials said only 11 circles in the country clearly have 13.75 MHz of spectrum available for the auction.

The EGoM has also decided that cancelled licences will be treated as new entrants, and has also said that existing spectrum conversion can happen only after licence expiry.

While the reserve price will be finalized at a later date, the EGoM has decided that it will ‘maximise revenues from the auction within the set parameters’, CNBC said.