Telecom Lead India: Uninor, MTS India, Videocon
Telecommunications and Idea Cellular are likely to get more time to prepare for
the forthcoming 2G spectrum auction.
As the Indian telecom ministry will ask the Supreme Court
for approval to conduct mobile radio airwaves auction in November, these mobile
operators will be able to run their mobile services in affected telecom circles
till the completion of the auction.
Earlier, the government was planning to conduct 2G spectrum
by end-August.
Reuters reported that the country is selling
second-generation mobile radio spectrum through open auction for the first
time, after the top court ruled that a 2008 government grant process was flawed
and ordered to revoke all 122 zonal permits granted that year.
The auction was due by end-August, as the affected carriers’ current permits
are valid until September 7, but was widely expected to be delayed as the sale
starting price and other rules had not been finalized in time.
The affected carriers’ licences were originally ordered to be revoked in early
June, but the court allowed them to operate for four more months as the auction
was delayed.
