Just two days ago, I penned an insightful article discussing Bharti’s potential strategy to acquire spectrum in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands. This move could enable Bharti to establish a 10 MHz block, essential for deploying Standalone 5G services without waiting for the 600 MHz band availability. The strategy outlined involved a tactical approach to reallocating 4G users, ensuring uninterrupted business operations. However, in today’s analysis, I will delve into the considerable challenges Bharti faces in executing this strategy, primarily due to the auction rules. These rules create a distinct disparity between existing bidders, who already possess 800 MHz spectrum in the relevant License Service Area (LSA), and new bidders without such holdings, particularly concerning the minimum number of blocks each can bid for in a given circle. To elucidate this complex issue further, I recorded a video yesterday available for viewing. In this article, I aim to detail these intricacies in writing, offering readers an alternative medium to grasp this pivotal subject comprehensively.
Auction Rules Explained:
The auction rules, which dictate the quantum of spectrum bidders can aim for based on their current holdings, are detailed on pages 58 and 59 of the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA). They are summarised in a key snapshot from the NIA.
