The Department of Telecom is in the process of issuing show cause notices, asking why 35 licences of various companies should not be terminated for failing to meet rollout obligations, Parliament was informed on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Show Cause Notices (SCNs) for termination of 16 UAS (Unified Access Services) Licenses have been issued for violation of the rollout obligations. Government is in the process of issuance of the SCN for termination of UASL to another 35 licenses,” Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Mr. Deora said that TRAI has recommended cancellation of 53 telecom licenses (UASL) and also recommended to seek legal opinion once again on the issue of cancellation of another 30 licenses.
Without naming them, Mr. Deora said the case of two companies recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for cancellation is sub judice.
ADVERTISEMENT
The licences recommended for cancellation belong to Aircel, Dishnet Wireless (Now Aircel), Etisalat DB, Idea Cellular, Sistema Shyam, Spice Communications, Vodafone Essar Spacetel, Loop Telecom, Videocon and Unitech Wireless, the Minister said.
However, he did not commit any timeframe for final decision on cancellation of licenses.
“For taking decision on the recommendation of TRAI, the comments/opinion of other Ministry/Department are also required and therefore definite time frame cannot be given at this stage,” Mr. Deora said.