Spectrum auction to take place during end of September

Setting at rest reports that the spectrum auction might be pushed by a few days to coincide with the period considered auspicious by Hindus, as requested by the telecom industry, the Union government today said it would take place during the end of September.

“We have finalised the date of the auction and it will happen in the last week of September... 29 or 30th,” Union communications minister Manoj Sinha told reporters here.

Earlier, there were reports that government was looking at pushing the upcoming spectrum auction by a few days to coincide with the period considered auspicious by Hindus, as requested by telecom industry.

Asked about corporate rivalry in the telecom sector and whether the government was looking at intervening in it, he said “where it will be needed we will definitely intervene, but I don't think there is any such thing that government should intervene”.

Allegations have flown thick and fast between cellular operators and RJio, with COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) terming the latter’s testing of network as bypass of regulations and the Mukesh Ambani firm returning fire saying the charge is a bid to block its full roll out.