Airtel fortifies its strong spectrum portfolio Acquires 355.45 MHz spectrum for Rs. 18,699 Crores

 

• Secures Pan India Sub GHz spectrum; 90 million additional customers to be covered
• Unmatched spectrum footprint that will help deliver the best experience

Kolkata, March 2, 2021: Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier digital communication solutions provider, today said that it has acquired 355.45 MHz spectrum across Sub GHz, mid band and 2300 MHz bands for a total consideration of Rs 18,699 crores in the latest spectrum auction conducted by the Department of Telecom, Government of India. This gives Airtel the most formidable spectrum holdings in the country.

Airtel has now secured Pan India foot print of Sub GHz spectrum that will help improve its deep indoor and in building coverage in every urban town. In addition, this precious spectrum will also help improve its coverage in villages by offering the superior Airtel experience to an additional 90 million customers in India. Through this auction, Airtel has also decisively strengthened its mid band and capacity spectrum holdings that will help it provide an exceptional customer experience at marginal capex.  All of the spectrum will enable Airtel to deliver 5G services in future.

Airtel thanked the Department of Telecom for conducting a very efficient auction and putting out a large quantum of spectrum across multiple bands in the latest auction. Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel said, “At the outset, we would like to thank the Government for making abundant spectrum available for auctions. Airtel now has a solid spectrum portfolio that will enable it to continue delivering the best mobile broadband experience in India. We are most excited at bringing the power of Airtel services to an additional 90 million customers in India through the power of our Pan India Sub GHz footprint.”

 

The Company added that despite the large amount of spectrum made available, the 700 MHz band bands did not get any bid from the operators as it made no economic case for them based on the high reserve prices. The 700 MHz band coupled with the 3.5 GHz band has the potential  to accelerate India's progress to the top league of digitally enabled nations. Therefore, the reserve pricing of these bands must be addressed on priority in future. This will help the nation to benefit from the digital dividend that will inevitably arise out of this.

 

ANNEXURE - Airtel Spectrum Acquisition in the latest auction

 

Circles		Band		MHz		Rs. Cr.
Sub GHz Spectrum
Bihar		900		3.4		683
Gujarat		900		4.2		1,567
Haryana		800		3.8		214
Himachal Pradesh		900		2.6		96
Kerala		900		4.6		915
MPCG		800		5.0		715
Maharashtra		800		2.5		1,275
North East		900		1.2		28
Odisha		900		3.8		327
Tamil Nadu including Chennai		900		5.0		1,175
UP – East		900		5.0		1,310
UP – West		800		5.0		805
West Bengal		900		2.8		347
Sub Total				48.85		9,457
Mid band spectrum
Assam	2100		5.0		150
Bihar	1800		2.80		246
Himachal Pradesh	1800		4.8		86
J &K	1800		10.0		170
Karnataka	1800		11.2		1,221
Kerala	1800		5.0		475
Kolkata	1800		1.0		173
MPCG	1800		4.2		399
North East	2100		5.0		30
Odisha	1800		2.6		70
Punjab	1800		5.0		440
Tamil Nadu including Chennai	1800		15.0		1,500
UP – East	1800		3.2		490
UP – West	1800		3.0		345
West Bengal	1800		3.8		201
West Bengal	2100		5.0		175
Sub Total			86.6		6,172
Capacity Spectrum
Assam	2300		10.0		20
Bihar	2300		10.0		70
Gujarat	2300		10.0		700
Haryana	2300		20.0		160
Himachal Pradesh	2300		10.0		10
Jammu & Kashmir	2300		20.0		20
Kerala	2300		10.0		200
MPCG	2300		10.0		90
Maharashtra	2300		10.0		720
North East	2300		10.0		10
Odisha	2300		10.0		50
Punjab	2300		20.0		420
Rajasthan	2300		20.0		120
UP – East	2300		20.0		180
UP – West	2300		20.0		240
West Bengal	2300		10.0		60
Sub Total			220		3,070
GRAND TOTAL			355.45		18,699