iWorld
Day four of telecom spectrum bids brings in Rs 86,000 crore
MUMBAI: While the government had set aside a reserve base price of Rs 49,000 crore for the ongoing auction of wireless spectrum, it has already received a massive Rs 86,000 crore from a total of 24 bids till 7 March. While some spectrum slots saw strong competitive bidding, other slots are yet to see the bidding, according to reports.
The spectrum auction is being conducted for airwaves in the 2100, 1800, 900 and 800 MHz bands. The validity of the spectrum is for a period of 20 years.
When compared to last year’s February 2014 auction, the government had received total bids of over Rs 62,000 crore. In the ongoing auction the first day itself collected Rs 60,000 crore!
This figure further rose to Rs 66,000 crore on 5 March, followed by Rs 77,000 on 6 March. Day four on 7 March meanwhile saw bids touching a massive Rs 86,000 crore. This figure is easily expected to touch to Rs 1 lakh crore on 9 March. The amount will vary depending on how much these telecom companies are willing to spend to hold on their present spectrum in the vital 900 MHz band. Companies will also keep an eye on 3G spectrum in 2,100 MHz band. The bands of 2,100 MHz is up on sale with a reserve price of Rs 3,705 crores per MHz. The two bands that may witness the highest bids are 800 MHz with reserve price of Rs 3,646 crores per MHz and 900 MHz with reserve price of Rs 3,980 crores. Besides, the government has fixed the reserve price at Rs. 2,191 crores for 1,800 MHz band.
According to a statement by Fitch Ratings, telcos are likely to cough at least $13 billion in the auctions – over 75 per cent of which is likely to be contributed by the top-four telcos i.e Bhararti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular and the newest entrant Reliance Jio.
The top-three telcos – Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular could cough up around $2.5 to $4.5 billion each to renew their expiring spectrum in six, seven and nine Indian circles respectively. On the other hand, Tata Teleservices and Uninor may either bid for few 3G frequencies or try and broaden the range of their 2G spectrum. Idea has been pushed to the wall clearly as it needs to retain its existing spectrum, which is expiring in circles that contribute around 70 per cent of its annual revenue.
Similar revenue contributes 45 per cent and 35 per cent of annual Indian revenue for Vodafone and Bharti, respectively. If these companies want to continue offering their services it is mandatory for them to bid for their spectrum as their permit is expiring in 2015-2016.
The ambitious Reliance Jio project, part of Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Industries, which plans to roll out its services in 2015 with an investment budget of $12 billion, is likely to fill its spectrum gaps in the 1,800MHz band. The Fitch report feels Jio will probably focus on data services using “long-term evolution” technology, with its ownership of 1,800MHz spectrum in 14 circles and a pan-India spectrum in 2,300MHz. However, as occasionally seen in the earlier auctions, Reliance Jio could push up the spectrum price in 900MHz for other telcos, if it chooses to do so, as the auction mechanism hides the identities of participants.
According to data by the Department of Telecommunications, Assam is the hot favourite with access demand in three circles it is available. Gujarat, Maharashtra, the North East, Punjab and Odisha circles are most sought after in the 800 MHz segment while West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh circles are a hit in the 900 MHz segment.
The total spectrum that the government put up for auction is 103.57 MHz in the 800 MHz band, 177.8 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 99.2 MHz in the 1800 MHz band and 85 MHz in the 2100 MHz band.
The eight telcos battling it out are Bharati Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications, Telewings Communications (Uninor), Aircel, Tata Teleservices, and Reliance Jio.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
