The Union Cabinet has decided to auction only 5 MHz of 3G spectrum in the 2100 MHz band, along with spectrum in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands during the upcoming auctions in February 2015.

The 5 MHz of 3G spectrum will be available in 17 circles, pertaining to the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Communications and IT and the Ministry of Defence in 2009. Meanwhile, the 15 MHz of spectrum in 2100 MHz that the Ministry of Defence plans to provide by swapping it with spectrum in 1900 MHz band is likely to be auctioned in May 2015.

The final prices of spectrum in 2100 MHz band will be decided only after the Telecom Commission accepts the recently released recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). As per these recommendations, TRAI had suggested auctioning of the 15 MHz spectrum in the upcoming auctions to resolve the issues of spectrum scarcity. The cabinet however has decided against this, as the 15 MHz spectrum held by the defence forces has yet not been procured by the Department of Telecommunications for commercial usage.