Broadband wireless auction nets government Rs32,000 crore; Mumbai tops bidding

In less than 45 days, the government has made just under Rs100,000 crore from selling 3G and broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum, and the clock continues to tick. Day 12 of the BWA auction on Monday saw the bid price of a pan India nationwide slot rise to Rs 10,652 crore, with government revenues touching Rs32,000 crore.

The auction is now running at full pace – with 10 rounds of bidding being conducted daily – and is likely to end some time this week.

The all India bid for broadband wireless auction has crossed the Rs10,000-crore mark at the close of day 12 and stands at Rs 10,652 crore. The government's revenues have increased to Rs31,956 crore. If the 3G and BWA revenues are together taken into account, the government's revenue stands at Rs99,675 crore.

The BWA bid activity now stands at 100-per cent levels. Activity levels have risen to 100 per cent from round 82 per cent on day 11. The auction expected to close shortly.

Mumbai saw the highest bid at Rs1,804.29 crore. Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka circles saw bids of Rs1,758.29 crore, Rs1,614.48 crore, and Rs1,277.48 crore respectively on day 12. The circles of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kolkata, Punjab, and Kerala were priced at Rs915.64 crore, Rs572.59 crore, Rs492.92 crore, Rs313.04 crore, and Rs203.83 crore.

There was a negative demand only in four circles at the end of round 92.