30 September 2016
Update | Telecom
Sector
| Sector Update
Telecom
An INR368b spectrum hole to be filled
Idea/Vodafone could be most active in upcoming auction
Idea needs to spend about INR151b at reserve price, while Vodafone and RJio
require INR85b and INR99b in the forthcoming 2016 auction. Bharti’s need-based
investment could be the least at INR31b.
For the top-3 telcos in the ecosystem, we
have assumed minimum requirement of 10Mhz in each circle in the
900Mhz/1800Mhz/2100Mhz bands for 3G and 4G coverage, and an additional 5Mhz
for voice. For RJio, we assume minimum 10Mhz of own spectrum (excluding RCom)
in the 800-1800Mhz band, which can be used for both voice and data. 2300Mhz is
excluded, given its usage as capacity band. Any telco falling short of this yardstick is
expected to acquire spectrum in the respective circles in the forthcoming 2016
auctions.
Bharti: ~INR31b spectrum need; 50% expected to augment
Maharashtra 4G
Offering
Maharashtra – a bone of contention and to be fiercely fought for:
Bharti, with
its relatively superior holdings, still has a few spectrum holes to fill. Bharti holds
18.5% gross RMS in Maharashtra, which is a large circle in terms of revenue
contribution, operates 4G on 2300mhz as its current 8.2Mhz holding in the
1,800Mhz band is not sufficient to service subscribers’ voice + data needs in the
circle. We believe
this circle might see increased bidding, considering Vodafone
and Reliance Jio too might eye at least a 5Mhz block each to fill their spectrum
holes in Maharashtra
(Maharashtra has 13.4Mhz to offer at a reserve price of
INR3.18b per Mhz).
No 3G in Kerala, but bidding intensity expected to be low in the circle:
Bharti
does not offer 3G services in Kerala, where it holds ~14.9% gross RMS. But we
believe the geography is not expected to see increased bidding from
competitors. Sufficient availability of the 2,100Mhz band, with major operators
(Vodafone/Idea/Reliance Jio) being adequately covered for 3G services in
Kerala, should allow Bharti to secure 3G services at reserve price.
Vodafone: Multiple spectrum holes to require INR85b spectrum
outlay
Five 10-15% market share circles have no 3G-4G services:
Vodafone’s lower
markets like AP, MP, HP and J&K (~10% gross RMS each) and Bihar (RMS is
14.4%) are expected to be focus areas, with 9% revenue contribution but no 3G
or 4G services. Vodafone would be forced to acquire spectrum to protect its
turf. However, any increase in reserve prices due to a bidding war in any of
these circles could further increase its spectrum spend.
Aliasgar Shakir
(Aliasgar.shakir@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3010 2415
Jay Gandhi
(Jay.Gandhi@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 6129 1546
Investors are advised to refer through important disclosures made at the last page of the Research Report.
30 September 2016
1
Motilal Oswal research is available on
www.motilaloswal.com/Institutional-Equities,
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