“This (the 3G auction) will be completed in the next 60 days. The operators will start offering the service this calendar year itself,” Pitroda told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.
Noting that the auction process has “already been delayed,” Pitroda said the government wants to complete the spectrum sale as soon as possible. “The auction is already delayed but it will be completed soon. There is no question of any kind of uncertainty (in the auction process),” Pitroda said.
4G soon
The Centre is hopeful of bringing 4G services in the country in the next two years, which would mandate timely implementation of 3G.“We are now thinking of introducing 4G services in the next two years in India. It is important that we do not lag behind in 3G technologies,” Pitroda said. The last date for submission of applications has been set as March 19. The mock auction will take place on April 5 and 6, which will be followed by the much-awaited 3G auction on April 9, 2010, it said.
The third-generation (3G) service enables users to access the Internet with facilities of high-speed content download and broadband services.For the time being, only three operators will be allowed to roll-out the service in most of the circles, including the metros.The auction of spectrum has already been postponed several times owing to debates with regard to its availability and the number of operators in each circle.