3:00 PM -- Only days after delaying its 3G spectrum auction from January 16 to January 30, it looks as if India's Department of Telecommunications is to push the date back further. (See IndiaWatch: 3G Delayed, 2G Adds 10M.)

An ungrammatical update on the DoT's Website today says only: "The revised time line for auction of 3G and BWA spectrum will be notified shortly."

India's operators have been waiting years for spectrum to be freed up for next-generation wireless services -- now it looks as if they'll have to wait a bit longer.

Oh, except for state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) , of course, which, handily for them, already have their 3G airwaves. (See IndiaWatch: Telenor Still Committed and MTNL Launches 3G.)

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Unstrung