DoT to Finally Allocate 2G Spectrum from February Auction

The final allocation is expected within a week as process of swapping of frequencies between operators has been completed.

(Also see: DoT approaches Trai for next round of spectrum auction)

"Telecom companies had requested to swap spectrum frequencies won by them in 1,800MHz band so that they can easily provide LTE (4G) services. Frequencies have been swapped and LoI will be sent out as soon as higher authorities approve it," an official source told PTI.

Five out of seven companies - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Idea Cellular and Telewings (Uninor) - have requested for swapping of frequencies.

Airtel's spectrum frequencies in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab have been rearranged, Vodafone's frequencies in Haryana, Kolkata, Punjab and UP East are rearranged, Idea Cellular in Punjab, Reliance Jio Infocomm in Kolkata and North East and Telewings (Uninor) in UP East and West.

Idea Cellular had sought to change frequencies in Kerala and Vodafone in Delhi with Reliance Jio Infocomm, which did not agree to the proposal due to some technical issues.

The government had received bids worth Rs. 37,572.6 croress for 1800MHz, widely known as 2G spectrum, in last auctions.

Airtel has won 1800MHz spectrum in 15 out of 22 service area for 9,906.02 crores, Vodafone and Idea in 11 service area for Rs. 8,383.52 crores and Rs. 7,010.83 crores, Reliance Jio in 14 circles for Rs. 11,054.41 crores and Telewings Communications in 5 circles for Rs. 844.72 crores.

Other winners include Reliance Communications and Aircel, which won spectrum in one and five service areas, respectively.