The long delayed auction of 3G spectrum in India has been given a new date – April 9, 2010.

According to information released by the Indian government on Thursday, invitations to apply to participate in the auction will be issued on February 25, with the actual auction to take place around six weeks later.

Commenting on the announcement, T R Dua, director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said that the GSM industry had been “eagerly awaiting” the 3G auctions and said that the operator community is all geared up to provide high speed internet and a wide range of multimedia services to consumers as well as boosting social initiatives such as m-health and mobile education.

“3G will give a major impetus to the growth and penetration of mobile broadband services in the country and the mobile industry is keen to deliver on its promise to make affordable broadband services available to the consumers in the shortest possible time frame,” Dua said.