MTS Sistema Wins 800MHz Spectrum in 8 Circles – Sets Base Price

Telecom Spectrum Auction - Foreign Entities AllowedMTS India’s go forward plan involves sharpening the Company’s focus on its data centric-voice enabled strategy and to build a stronger MTS brand in the country. Company’s bidding strategy in the auctions considered a range of variables including spectrum pricing, number of carrier slots available, levels of competition, future data potential in the circles etc.

MTS Winning Circles – The Circles won by MTS India include Delhi, Kolkata, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh (West) & West Bengal.

The Company decided not to bid for Mumbai, Maharashtra and UP East circles and would be immediately initiating the process to inform its customers in 3 circles to port out to other telecom operators of their choice.

MTS India is already operational in Rajasthan Circle. Operational footprint with 3 carrier slots of 1.25 MHz each in 9 circles (includes Rajasthan) to enable MTS India to service 40% of country’s population, address over 60% of data potential & also safeguard 75% of its current revenues.

The spectrum won by SSTL in eight circles is technology neutral and would be valid for 20 years. The company would be required to pay INR 3,639 crores for the license period.

With this Auction, the base price of the 800 MHz Spectrum cannot go any further down in these circles in the next round of auctions as MTS Sistema has already bought Spectrum at this Price.