A total of 72 GHz of airwaves will be up for bidding, with participation from four entities - Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Data Networks, a subsidiary of the Group. They have submitted earnest money deposits{EMD} - a key marker of bidding intent - to the department of Telecommunication{DOT}. Reliance Jio has put in Rs 14,000 crore, compared to Rs 5,500 crore by Airtel, Rs 2, 200 crores by Vodafone Idea, and Rs 100 crore by the Group

 Which bands will be auctioned?

  A total of 72, 097.85 MHz [72 GHz] of the spectrum with a validity period of 20 years will be put on auction from July 26. The auction will be held for spectrum in the frequency bands 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 3,300 MHz, and 26 GHz

  It is expected that the Mid and High band spectrum will be utilized by telecom service providers to roll out 5G technology-based service capable of providing speed and capacities which would be about 10 times higher than what is possible through the current 4G services, according to a statement by the Union Cabinet issued Last month

 What is the significance of the EMD amount?

 The amount of EMD signals the intents of a company about the amount of spectrum it wishes to buy, as it indicates its bidding strategy and spectrum-buying capacity

 An application is given an eligibility point depending on its EMD, based on which it can target a certain quantum of airways in the selected spectrum bands. According to analysts, based on the Group EMD, it could possibly buy spectrum worth Rs 700 crore

 What does the difference in EMD amount tell us?

 With such a huge gap between the Group EMD and each of the other three telcos, especially Jio, experts believe that the conglomerate might not directly take them on in the consumer 5G space, at least for now. However, the Group, which has said it is entering the auction to build a private 5G network, could possibly become a competitor of telecom companies in the enterprise solution vertical, according to analysts

 Dani: Since the Group has previously clarified it has no intention of entering the consumer 5G space and is participating in the spectrum auction to build a captive private network, analysts tracking the field believe that the company might bid on the 26 GHz millimeter band, which is a high speed, low latency band, and thus ideal for private networks. In a report, Credit Suisse said low EMD compared to the others does indicate that its participation in the spectrum auction will largely be limited to the 26 GHz band, which is the cheapest band for enterprise use cases 

 Jio: Jio, meanwhile, can buy spectrum worth around Rs 1,30,000 crore and could also bid for the premium 700 MHz band, which is best suited for consumer-related applications. We expect to bid 100-150 in the 3.5GHz band, 500 MHz in the 26 GHz band, and also potentially 5-10 MHz in the 700 MHz band or selectively add to its spectrum holding in 800 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, Credit Suisse said in its report