Adani Group To Challenge Jio, Airtel In 5G Spectrum's Hot Race: Report

Billionaire Gautam Adani's group is said to be planning a surprise entry into the 5G race to acquire telecom spectrum, which will pitch it directly against Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio and telecom czar Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel, sources told news agency PTI.

Applications for participating in the 26 July auction of airwaves, including those capable of providing fifth-generation or 5G telecom services such as ultra-high-speed internet connectivity, closed on Friday, 8 July with at least four applications.
The fourth applicant is Adani Group, one of the sources said, adding that the group had recently obtained National Long Distance (NLD) and International Long Distance (ILD) licences.

But this could not be independently confirmed. Email and phone calls made to the Adani Group did not elicit any response. As per the auction timelines, ownership details of applicants are to be published on 12 July and the bidders should be known then.

A total of 72,097.85 MHz of spectrum worth at least ₹ 4.3 lakh crore will be put on the block during the auction, set to commence on 26 July.

The auction will be held for spectrum in various low (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz), mid (3300 MHz) and high (26 GHz) frequency bands.

According to the PTI report, Ambani and Adani, who hail from Gujarat and went on to build mega business groups, had till recently not had a direct face-off. While the former expanded from the oil and petrochemicals business into telecom and retail, the latter diversified from the ports segment to coal, energy distribution and aviation.

But increasingly, their interests are overlapping, setting what some say is the stage for a clash.

Adani has in the recent months set up a subsidiary for a foray into petrochemicals - a business that Ambani's father Dhirubhai began with before its downstream and upstream operations.

Ambani too has announced multi-billion-dollar plans for new energy business, including Giga factories for solar panels, batteries, green hydrogen and fuel cells.
The Cabinet, last month, approved 5G auctions at reserve prices recommended by the sector regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The regulator had recommended an about 39 percent cut in floor price for the sale of 5G spectrum for mobile services, as per the PTI report.

The validity of the right to use spectrum will be of 20 years. Overall, the payment terms have been eased for bidders in the upcoming auction.

The Cabinet, last month, approved 5G auctions at reserve prices recommended by the sector regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The regulator had recommended an about 39 percent cut in floor price for the sale of 5G spectrum for mobile services.

The validity of the right to use spectrum will be of 20 years. Overall, the payment terms have been eased for bidders in the upcoming auction.