Vodafone, Airtel Fight Back Government Over 900 MHz Auction Plan

Telecom Majors in India, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have challenged Government's plan regarding the auction of 900 MHz band. The telecom service providers had filed a petition against the Government in Delhi High Court. The companies are against the auction of 900 MHz radio waves because extensions of their licenses have still not been granted by the Department of Telecommunications.

A senior official from Bharti Airtel said that the company wants the auction to be proceeded with and it hopes that the Government will do the needful in regard to this matter. He also said that the company expects that its license will be extended. The official said that this legal move by the company is just to protect its contractual right in 900 MHz band of spectrum.

In another statement by Vodafone, the company said that Government's plan to auction 900MHz band is against the provisions of the mutually agreed policy and license. It also said that the move is against public interest. The company had sought an extension of license from the Department of Telecommunication in December for services in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai circles.

The Government had changed the terms of licenses as compared to the one in clause 4.1 of Unified access Service License. According to the clause, the telecom operators are eligible for an extension of license. The Government under the new terms made it a renewal, rather than extension. This change in terms clearly indicates that Vodafone has to win the spectrum auction that is to be held in March to continue its services in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.