"It has been going on for the last three years...We can do nothing until the government starts the auction. We are ready to participate in the auction," Bharti Airtel Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Mittal told PTI on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meet.

The government, according to sources, has taken a view that auction should be held only when the spectrum is available to distribute among the players.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) had prepared the draft Notice Inviting Application listing guidelines and terms and conditions for the participants and had sought Law Ministry's opinion before finalising it.

According to sources, the Law Ministry has raised concerns about operators demanding compensation in case of delay in allocating spectrum.

Asked whether the industry would be hit due to this decision, Mittal said, "...It is not the industry which needs it. It is India (subscribers) who require next generation 3G mobile services."