3G spectrum auction to be completed by Jan, says Raja

India will complete the allocation process of radio spectrum for high-speed mobile-phone services by January, Telecommunication and IT Minister A Raja said today.     

In August, Raja had said that the government would auction permits for the third-generation, or 3G, mobile-phone airwaves by December.     

"3G auction is on schedule. That is why I am going to meet the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister today to discuss the related issues. Although the global economy is currently passing through a recession phase, its impact has been comparatively less on telecom sector," Raja told reporters here at a FICCI-DoT seminar on telecom.     

The minister, however, did not sound enthusiastic about the expected revenue realisations from the 3G spectrum auction in the wake of global financial crisis.     

"Beyond the reserve price of 3G spectrum, I am not an astrologer to know beforehand what would be the realisation. Once the auction process is over, only then we will know what the revenue is," he said.     

While announcing the policy in August, Raja had said that the government expected Rs 30,000-40,000 crore from the 3G spectrum auction.