New Delhi: The government on Wednesday fixed the base price for 3G auction at Rs 3,705 crore per MHz, which can fetch over Rs 17,000 crore.

Along with the spectrum in 2,100 MHz band, which is used to offer 3G services, the government will also offer the second generation or 2G mobile airwaves in three different bands in an auction scheduled for March 4.

According to estimates, the combined proceeds from auction of all the four bands are estimated by the government at over Rs 1 lakh crore – making it the biggest ever spectrum sale.

The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the minimum or auction start price for airwaves in 2,100 Mega-Hertz band or 3G spectrum, which will garner at least Rs 17,555 crore, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the meeting. (Courtesy NDTV)