Even after a very dull response from telecom operators in the last two spectrum auctions, MF Farooqui, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said on Monday that he is confident of achieving the revenue target of Rs 40,000 crore from spectrum sale in this financial year.
While speaking to reporters, he said, “We will exceed whatever is the budget provision for the receipt of money from auction for this year. Rs 11,000 crore is the receipt from the upcoming auction which means the total amount will be around Rs 40,000 crore.”
He further added that the Government is hopeful that the upcoming spectrum auction would be a success. “We are very confident that these auctions are going to be successful and we are very confident all the spectrum that is to be auctioned will be sold,” Farooqui said.
DoT is likely to conduct the third round of spectrum auction by January. The Government had set a total revenue target of Rs 40,874.5 crore this fiscal from spectrum, including auction amount, one-time spectrum charge and annual regular licence fee. Out of the set target, the Government has already received Rs 9,407.64 crore from the November auction last year and Rs 3,639 crore from the March auction.