5G auction: Jio puts in highest EMD at Rs 14,000 crore, Adani puts Rs 100 crore

Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Adani Data Networks and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have put in earnest money deposits (EMDs) of Rs 14,000 crore, Rs 5, 500 cr, Rs 100 crore and Rs 2, 200 crore respectively, according to data put out by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday.

The EMDs are part of applications that the applicants filed to the DoT to participate in the upcoming 5G spectrum sale, starting July 26.

The EMD quantum is indicative of a company’s bidding strategy and spectrum buying capacity as it gives the applicant eligibility points, based on which it can target a certain quantum of airwaves in select or all available bands in specific or all circles. Analysts estimate that on an average, a telco can target spectrum worth up to eight-to-nine times their respective EMDs in the 5G sale.


Based on the EMD disclosures on DoT’s website, Jio with the highest deposits has collected 159830 eligibility points while Airtel has amassed 66330 points. Vi has 29370 points, while new entrant Adani has 1650 points.

With the current points tally, all four can bid for any band in any LSA, depending on the spectrum cap.