India, the world's fastest growing mobile market, is expected to delay the auction of third-generation wireless spectrum to February due to uncertainty over defence forces giving up spectrum, two newspapers reported today, citing sources close to the development.

The Business Standard said the auction of spectrum, that would allow high speed wireless network, would be pushed to the end of February, while The Daily News and Analysis said it was likely in mid-February.

Last week, India's telecom minister said the auction, which has been deferred several times before, would meet the Jan 14 schedule. But the government is yet to come out with the notice inviting applications.

A spokesman for the telecom ministry could not be immediately reached for comment by Thomson Reuters today.

Analysts expect phone companies to spend US$1.5 billion ($2.1 billion) on 3G spectrum alone, while building the high-speed wireless networks will cost billions of dollars more.