Reliance Jio top bidder with Rs 88,078 cr bid for 5G; Adani acquires airwaves worth Rs 212 cr
New Delhi, Aug 1: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio on Monday emerged as the largest bidder for the 5G spectrum, acquiring close to half of all the airwaves sold in the latest auction for Rs 88,078 crore.
According to Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Adani group bought 400 MHz, or less than one per cent of all spectrum sold, for Rs 212 crore.
While Adani group bought spectrum in the 26 GHz band, which is not for public networks, Jio acquired spectrum across several bands, including the coveted 700 MHz band that can provide 6-10 km of signal range and forms a good base for fifth generation (5G) in all 22 circles in the country.
A single towner can cover more area if 700 Mhz is used.
Telecom tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal's Bharti Airtel bought a 19,867 MHz airwave across different bands for Rs 43,084 crore.
Vodafone Idea Ltd bought spectrum for Rs 18,784 crore.
In all, Rs 150,173 crore of bids were received, Vaishnaw said.
Of the 72,098 MHz of spectrum offered across 10 bands, 51,236 MHz, or 71 per cent, was sold.
The government, he said, in the first year will get a Rs 13,365 crore payment for the spectrum.
He also said the 5G services could be launched by October.
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Canada rejects allegations linking Modi, Jaishankar to criminal activities
New Delhi: The Canadian government has denied any connection between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities within Canada.
A statement from Nathalie G. Drouin, the national security and intelligence advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, clarified that there is no evidence implicating the Indian leaders. "Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate," the statement read.
The clarification follows a report by The Globe and Mail alleging links between the Indian leadership and the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar in Canada. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly refuted the report, labelling it "ludicrous" and dismissing it with "the contempt it deserves."
The MEA reiterated its stance, calling such allegations part of a "smear campaign" that harms already strained diplomatic ties.
This development comes amidst heightened tensions between India and Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau had previously claimed "credible allegations" of India's involvement in Nijjar's killing, which India vehemently denied, describing the accusations as "absurd" and "motivated."
Nijjar, a Khalistani activist, was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Following the incident, India recalled six diplomats after they were declared "persons of interest" by Canadian authorities.
India has consistently expressed concerns over extremism and anti-India activities in Canada, urging the Trudeau government to take appropriate action against such elements.
