Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Adani Data Networks have been approved by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as the final participants in the first-ever 5G spectrum auction in India, which is set to begin on July 26.

The Center intends to auction 72 Ghz of spectrum with a 20-year validity period for Rs4.3 lakh crore. Low (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz) and mid-range (3.3-3.67 Ghz) to high frequency bands are all available for purchase (26 Ghz).

The market leader Jio submitted the highest earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 14,000 crore among all the companies vying for 5G airwaves, indicating its aggressive intent in the upcoming sale. Adani Data Networks, a recent entry, made a deposit of Rs 100 crore, which may have highlighted its strategy of acquiring a limited number of airwaves in particular locations for captive networks.