DoT yet to seek payment for 5G spectrum sold in June auction
DoT) has yet to issue demand notes to telecom firms seeking payment for spectrum that they won in the latest auction that concluded three weeks ago.
The department is waiting for the finance ministry's clearance to issue the demand notes, officials said. According to them, finance ministry officials are probably busy preparing the budget for its presentation on July 23.
«We have communicated the results to them (the finance ministry). Once we get a revert, we will instantly issue the demand to telcos,» an official said.
In the sale that ended on June 26, Bharti Airtel bought 97 MHz of 5G airwaves worth ₹6,856.76 crore, while Vodafone Idea purchased 30 MHz of 5G spectrum for ₹3,510.40 crore. Reliance Jio bought spectrum worth ₹973.62 crore, its lowest ever in spectrum auctions. In the previous 5G spectrum sale in 2022, DoT had issued demand notices to the winners within four days after the auction concluded on August 1. In fact, the entire process of getting payment and allocation of spectrum was concluded in 20 days in 2022.
This year, however, things are moving at a slow pace, note industry executives. Telcos can make payment only after the department issues a demand and specifies a payment schedule.
As per the notice inviting application, telcos must make the payment within 10 days of the issuance of the demand note and spectrum can be allocated within 30 days after they make the first instalment or the full payment depending on the option they have chosen.
Industry executives, however, feel that the delay
