Fresh from raising almost US$15 billion (INR677.2 billion) in 3G spectrum license auctions this week, India is due to today open bidding for broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum. 11 applicants for BWA spectrum have been approved to take part in the auctions: Aircel, Augere (Mauritius), Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Infotel Broadband Services, Qualcomm, Reliance WiMax, Spice Internet Service Provider, Tata Communications Internet Services, Tikona Digital Networks and Vodafone Essar.

Qualcomm’s presence is of particular interest, as the company is attempting to promote the use of TD-LTE technology in the 2.3 GHz spectrum band on offer, rather than WiMAX. India plans to auction two slots of radio bandwidth for broadband wireless technology in each of India’s 22 circles, with the base price for one pan-India slot set at INR17.5 billion (US$384 million), half of the 3G auction’s minimum. Some analysts believe bidding in the BWA auction could be just as fierce as that in the 3G spectrum auction, and may also take at least a month.