Communications and IT minister A. Raja has stated that the 3G spectrum auctions will be concluded by March 2010. The auctions, originally scheduled for January 2009, were postponed after a dispute within the government over the reserve price for the spectrum. The 3G auction was then rescheduled for December 7, 2009 and the Wi-Max spectrum auction for two days after completion of the 3G spectrum auction. However, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has not been able to meet the first deadline of the auction process –­ September 29 –­ for releasing the information memorandum (IM) containing the terms for bidding.

With the IM yet to be released, the other timelines are also likely to be postponed, resulting in the auctions being delayed.