The next spectrum auction for 5G airwaves is poised to witness a showdown between industry giants Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Gautam Adani’s Adani Data Network.
Emerging reports indicate Adani Data Network’s potential entry into the internet service market as the fourth major player.
The auction, valued at Rs 96,317.65 crore, is scheduled to commence on May 20, and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a notice inviting applications (NIA) and outlining auction rules.
Companies seeking to buy spectrum can apply until April 22, as stated by the DoT earlier in the month.
Adani, in a recent interaction with employees, hinted at plans to expand his data centre operations, alongside venturing into Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning (AI-ML) and Industrial Cloud Capability.
With the growing scope of 5G internet in the country, Adani appears keen on tapping into this expanding sector.
Recently, Adani and the CEO of Qualcomm had a meeting during the latter’s visit to India.
The details of the meeting, shared by the Group on social media, have sparked intense speculation about potential collaborations or investments in the sector.
In 2022, Adani Data Network participated in a spectrum auction alongside industry leaders Reliance-Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Bharti Airtel.
The auction featured a total of 72,097.85 MHz of spectrum with a 20-year validity period. Reliance Jio emerged as the top spender, investing over Rs 88,078 crore in 5G spectrum, followed by Bharti Airtel with Rs 43,084 crore, and Vodafone Idea with Rs 18,799 crore.
