By
Telecom Lead Team: Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL)
announced it has filed a review petition before the Supreme Court following the
Supreme Court’s judgment on February 2, 2012 which directed quashing of the 21
telecom licenses granted to SSTL in 2008.
Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL) nationally operates its
telecom services under the MTS” brand and has over 15 million customers.
The review petition was filed on the belief that the
Supreme Court in its judgment has not considered several relevant submissions
made by SSTL which were specific and unique to its case. The company thinks it
is being unfairly penalized for acting in good faith and in reliance on the
appropriateness of the procedures established by India’s telecommunications
authorities.”
The company said that its case being a CDMA operator is
different, when compared to other affected mobile operators.
In a petition it contended that there is no finding or
suggestion by the CAG report that CDMA spectrum was equally or anywhere near in
demand as GSM.
Sistema sends notice to the government of India to settle
dispute over revocation of SSTL licenses
Recently Sistema said it has sent a formal notice to the
government of India over the decision by the Supreme Court of India to cancel
122 telecom licenses, including 21 licenses belonging to Sistema Shyam
TeleServices (SSTL), in which Sistema owns a 56.68 percent share.
The notice reads a dispute under the Bilateral Investment
Treaty (BIT) between the Government of the Russian Federation and the
Government of the Republic of India arising from the decision of the Supreme
Court of India issued on February 2, 2012.
Sistema believes that the cancellation of SSTL’s licenses
following Sistema’s investment of billions of dollars into the Indian cellular
sector is contrary to India’s obligations under the BIT, including obligations
to provide investments with full protection and security and obligations not to
expropriate investments.
Commenting on the latest development, Vsevolod Rozanov,
president & CEO, SSTL, said, We believe that SSTL’s case being a CDMA
operator is different, when compared to other affected mobile operators. It is
pertinent to note that SSTL was the only operator to have applied for a Pan
India CDMA spectrum in 2008.”
There is no finding or suggestion by the CAG report that
CDMA spectrum was equally or anywhere near in demand as GSM. Even now, our
company continues to be the only pure play CDMA operator in the country. In
light of our commitment to continue our Pan-Indian operations and to protect
the interest of more than 15 million customers and our investments, we have
filed for a review of the said judgment before the Honorable Supreme Court,”
Rozanov added.
editor@telecomlead.com
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