The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Saturday announced reserve prices for CDMA (800 MHz band) spectrum, putting minimum cost of pan-India per MHz of radio waves at Rs.2,685 crore, almost 50 per cent jump for the last auction’s base price. Of 22 telecom circles, the top five service areas in terms of their reserve price are – Delhi Rs.450 crore per MHz, Mumbai Rs.352 crore, Maharashtra Rs.282 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs.247 crore and Gujarat Rs.212 crore.

The regulator has also recommended that the entire CDMA spectrum held by the telecom PSU MTNL in Delhi and Mumbai be put up for auction as it is underutilised, besides suggesting that spectrum held by BSNL should be taken back and put for auction, except for one block of frequency in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and North-East service area. (Courtesy: Hindu)