Communications & IT minister A Raja on Tuesday expressed doubts whether the 3G spectrum auction, which is supposed to be held in 90 days, can be conducted at all this fiscal because of a shortage of frequencies. His comments come nearly two months after the empowered group of ministers cleared the reserve prices for the auction.

Raja blamed the defence ministry and sought finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s mediation in the release of spectrum by the defence forces. “Because of the stand taken by the defence ministry… there has been slippage in the original schedule of the auction. If this issue is not resolved quickly, I apprehend that the revenues anticipated from the 3G auction may not be forthcoming this year,” Raja wrote to Mukherjee.

“I request you to kindly intervene in this matter... so as to enable the 3G auctions to be completed during this year. You may also consider holding a meeting with defence minister AK Antony on the matter,” Raja added.

However, officials said Raja’s concerns were misplaced. “The department of telecommunications already has 60 MHz spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band and defence is only going to release 25 MHz. There’s no need to wait for all the spectrum to be available before conducting the auctions,” said an official.