On 3 February 2014, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has started the third round of spectrum auction with eight telecom companies in the race.
DoT has put on block around 385 MHz of radio waves in the 1,800 MHz band, and 46 MHz in the 900 MHz band.
As per the auction rules, every company has been given a quota of 240 minutes to extend the bid round. Normally, six-seven rounds take place in a day with each round of 60 minutes.
The third round of spectrum auction has been conducted following a Supreme Court order in the 2G case, directing that all the radio waves freed from the cancellation of 122 licences in February 2012 should be auctioned. Besides, 900 MHz has to be auctioned as some of the radio waves in this band are held under old telecom licences which will start expiring from November 2014.