Govt expects over Rs 35,000-cr from 3G: Raja

The government hopes to raise from the ongoing 3G spectrum auction more than Rs 30,000-35,000 crore (Rs 300-350 billion), an amount estimated earlier, Telecom Minister A Raja said.

"Earlier I said the auction could fetch Rs 30,000-35,000 crore, but now I'm optimistic that it may go up," Raja said.

He, however, declined to quantify the rise expected. Till April 17, which was the seventh day of the ongoing 3G spectrum auction, the government was assured of a minimum revenue of Rs 22,841.44 crore (Rs 228.41 billion).

The seventh day of 3G spectrum auction saw a huge jump of 63 per cent in the bid price for all-India licence at Rs 5,710.36 crore (Rs 57.10 billion) over the base price of Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion).

Delhi, after losing its top position to Gujarat earlier, has emerged as the most valuable circle at a bid value of Rs 626.37 crore (Rs 6.26 billion) followed by the Mumbai circle at Rs 598.59 crore (Rs 5.98 billion).

On April 17, 40 rounds had been completed, of which six rounds were held on the same day. Tamil Nadu logged in the third highest bid price of Rs 549.24 crore (Rs 5.49 billion), followed by Gujarat that experienced negative demand at Rs 533.40 crore (Rs 5.33 billion).

According to the details available with the Department of Telecom, Maharashtra got a bid of Rs 533.37 crore (Rs 5.33 billion), while Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh received that of Rs 507.97 crore (Rs 5.07 billion) and Rs 493.50 crore (Rs 4.93 billion), respectively.

The government is auctioning three slots of 3G airwaves in 17 telecom service areas. Only two slots are up for sale across the country for broadband airwaves, which will begin after the 3G auction.