Spectrum auction to be a muted affair as telcos already hold key bands

Loss of appetite: The spectrum auction this year could be a muted affair, with telcos' hunger for airwaves ebbing away after the feasts of 2010 and 2022

There is something about the Barcelona telecom summit that makes people open up. At the recent Mobile World Congress 2024, in the Spanish city famous for its architecture, football club, and nightlife, Indian telecom was in the limelight for its fastest 5G rollout.

While Department of Telecommunications Secretary Neeraj Mittal made presentations on India’s tech and telecom achievements, including the 5G coverage, he also spoke to the media about a less glamourous subject: Spectrum, which is radio frequencies allocated to mobile phone service providers and other sectors for communication over the airwaves. The Tamil Nadu-cadre officer of the Indian Administrative