India’s Department of Telecommunications detailed plans to auction 900MHz and 1.8GHz spectrum in January 2014.

According to Business Standard, the spectrum available is valued at INR486.9 billion ($7.8 billion), and successful bidders will have the option to pay in instalments.

There is also a spectrum usage charge on top of the auction fees. This ranges from 3 per cent of “adjusted gross revenue” for operators with up to 4.4MHz allocations, increasing in steps up to 8 per cent for operators with up to 15.2MHz of assignments.

There are no restrictions on the technologies that can be used, although details must be provided by the winners promptly “if the technology happens to be other than GSM/CDMA/WCDMA”.

According to reports, India’s Committee on Economic Affairs gave the green-light for the spectrum pricing earlier this week.

The closing date for the submission of applications is 4 January 2014, to be followed by the publication of ownership details of applicants on 7 January.

The list of bidders will be finalised on 16 January, with the auction starting on 23 January.

India has something of a chequered history when it comes to spectrum allocations, including its 2012 decision to cancel 122 licences issued in controversial circumstances in 2008.