India's auction of the much-awaited third-generation (3G) telecommunications services is going to take place from December 7 and the Department of Telecommunications has decided to invite bids from Oct. 26 to Nov. 13.

The declaration of an auction date a ministerial panel almost doubled the reserve price 3G spectrum to Rs. 3,500 crore, while the reserve price for broadband wireless has been fixed at Rs. 1,750 crore.

The Department of Telecommunications will hold a pre-bid conference on Oct. 12. Bidders must submit any queries if they have by Oct. 8.

Clarifications if any will be issued on Oct. 22 and the department will also hold a mock auction on Oct. 3 and 4.

According to Andimuthu Raja, union minister of communications, the sale of both 3G & broadband wireless spectrum would fetch approximately Rs 25,000 crore to the government.