16 telcos get cancellation call

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Initiating the process to terminate Unified Access Services (UAS) licences, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has issued show-cause notices to 16 telecom companies.

Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora told Lok Sabha on Friday that the government has issued show-cause notices for termination of 16 UASLs for violating rollout obligations.

Deora also said that they are in the process of sending such notices to another 35 licencees. He also informed that the case of two operators recommended by the TRAI for cancellation is under legal course. The companies are required to reply to DoT on why action can't be taken against them.

The ministry declined to give specific timeframe on the cancellation process. “The decision will be taken only after taking the opinion of other departments, therefore definite time frame cannot be given at this stage,” said Deora.

TRAI has recommended DoT to cancel 53 UAS licences. These telecos include Aircel, Etisalat DB, Idea Cellular, Vodafone Essar, Spacetel, Sistema Shyam, Spice Communications, Loop Telecom, Videocon and Unitech Wireless.