Government's proceeds from the spectrum auction on Thursday crossed Rs1 lakh crore mark as aggressive bidding took place across all bands on the eighth day of the biggest sale of 2G and 3G airwaves.
The amount is expected to rise further as there is spectrum which is yet to be sold. The auction will continue tomorrow. So far, over 86 per cent of the spectrum has been provisionally allocated to bidders.
Upbeat at the positive outcome of the bidding for the airwaves, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the news agency: "It is a matter of great assurance for us to know that the bid amount today crossed Rs1 lakh crore plus closing at Rs1,02,000 crore."
The bid amount crossing Rs1 lakh crore shows the trust and optimism in the new government's ability and potential to take fair decision and the inherent potential which the telecom segment holds out for future growth, he added.
Prasad complimented all the participants in the auction.
The telecom auction proceeds crossed Rs1 lakh crore mark on a day when the long-pending insurance bill was passed in Parliament, becoming the first major economic reform of the Narendra Modi government. Besides, the proceeds from coal auction earlier this week crossed Rs2 lakh crore mark while exceeding CAG's earlier loss estimate of Rs1.86 lakh crore.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) said at the end of 49 rounds, bids grew to over Rs1 lakh crore.
"There is aggressive bidding going on in all bands i.E. 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz and 800 MHz bands. At the end of 49th round, over 86 per cent of the spectrum has been provisionally allocated to bidders at a value of approximately Rs 1,02,000 crore," the DoT said.
The Department added that a majority of service areas are going at a premium over reserve price and the competitive bidding is expected to continue.