Department of Telecommunications is learnt to have told Vodafone and Loop Telecom that their licences cannot be extended and they will need to bid for airwaves to continue their services.
"
DoT has said that clause related to extension of licences,
companies should not read 'may' as 'shall' extend licence. Hence their request to extend licences have not been accepted by DoT," sources said. Sources added that
similar letter will be sent to Bharti Airtel as well. [color=rgb(64,64,64);font-family:arial;font-size:13px;]Vodafone, Loop and Airtel have approached court against government's plan to auction spectrum that they currently hold and has sought extension of licence using the same spectrum. [/color][color=rgb(64,64,64);font-family:arial;font-size:13px;]The
telecom firms contended that they have in their possession the 900 MHz spectrum since November 1994 and without considering their plea for renewal of licence. [/color][color=rgb(64,64,64);font-family:arial;font-size:13px;]The spectrum identified for auction in 900 Mhz includes 8 Mhz held by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone each in Delhi circle; 8 Mhz each of Loop Mobile and Vodafone in Mumbai; and in [/color]Kolkata[color=rgb(64,64,64);font-family:arial;font-size:13px;] 6.2 Mhz spectrum of Bharti Airtel and 7.8 Mhz of Vodafone that is due for renewal in 2014.[/color]
