Statsguru: Key takeaways from the 4G telecom spectrum bidding

THE MUCH awaited 4G telecom spectrum auction concluded last week with some surprises, a bit of consolidation, and status quo in some areas. Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel caught attention by buying more than expected, and along with Reliance Jio, the bidding strengthened the message of consolidation in the Indian telecom sector. In a market of 1.3 billion with only about a half having access to mobile broadband, the untapped user base still holds much promise.

As for status quo, the most expensive spectrum that lies in the 700 MHz band remained unsold once again, in a repeat of the 2016