India Is Set to Begin Bandwidth Auction

India will launch auctions on Jan. 14 to allot radio bandwidth for third-generation, or 3G, telecommunications services. The government will hold a separate bandwidth auction for broadband wireless access, a document on the Department of Telecommunications Web site said Saturday. The telecom department said it will auction about four blocks of radio bandwidth in most of the nation's 22 telecom service areas. The government is validating the frequency available across all circles for the auction, the department said. "Final details of the frequencies to be auctioned will be notified in the notice [that invites applications for bidding]," the note said. The department will also auction one block for telephony services on code division multiple access, or CDMA, technology. Indian companies holding licenses to offer telephony services would be allowed to bid for 3G bandwidth, the department said. Companies without an existing Indian license will be allowed to bid, but will have to procure a license before they launch their 3G services.