The auction of third-generation (3G) spectrum is likely to be completed in next 1 or 2 days, Telecom Minister A Raja informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
"The auction is being held successfully . . . it will be completed in one or two days," he said during Question Hour.
The e-auction began on April 9 and will continue till such time that demand equals supply, Raja said, adding that the award of spectrum was being done transparently and fairly.
Nine mobile telephony firms including Bharti, Vodafone, Reliance and Tatas are in the fray for 3-4 slots of 3G spectrum that allows subscribers to download hi-speed data and stream videos on mobile telephones. Radio waves are being auctioned across 22 circles.
"Procedure followed in allocation of (3G) spectrum is fully transparent....everything is transparent," he said insisting that the process followed was open to any scrutiny.
The available spectrum was put on the Department of Telecommunication's website before the auction, he said.
Raja had earlier this week stated that the government may garner around Rs 50,000-Rs 55,000 crore (Rs 500-550 billion) by selling 3G airwaves and broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum through auction.
"The revenue from 3G auction alone may cross Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion). Revenues from 3G and BWA spectrum put together may touch Rs 50,000-55,000 crore," he had stated this week.
At end of 16th day of auction on Wednesday, pan-India 3G mobile licence price reached Rs 8,914 crore (Rs 89.14 billion). Demand was on par with supply for just three circles: Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, while only Tamil Nadu and Kolkata received excess bids.
The successful bidders would be allotted air waves in September after the spectrum is vacated by the defence forces.
Raja informed the Upper House that there were various bands available that are classified as 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and possibly 5G.
While 1G frequency is used by security agencies like defence forces and police, 2G is used by mobile telephone operators.
