Tata Teleservices is reported to have withdrawn its application to participate in India’s upcoming spectrum auction, leaving the government with no potential bidder for frequencies suitable for CDMA services.

Citing "two sources with direct knowledge of the matter", the Economic Times said that Tata had been set to bid for licences in three zones where it is to lose its current permits.

With Videocon, the only other bidder for the CDMA spectrum, having already withdrawn its application, there is now no bidder left. An unnamed official said: "We’ll have to take a call on what to do."

Tata currently offers services using both CDMA and GSM-family technologies.

According to Wireless Intelligence figures, Tata is the second biggest CDMA operator in India, after Reliance Communications – which also operates a GSM network.

Reliance and SSTL, the country’s third biggest CDMA player, have not filed papers to participate in the auction, according to reports.