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Vodafone moves HC against DoT order of auction of its 900 MHz

Indiantelevision.com Team

(21 February 2013 02:57 pm)

NEW DELHI: Even as the government is preparing to auction the remaining 2G spectrum, Vodafone has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the Telecommunication Department's action of putting its 900 MHz spectrum to auction.

The petition has opposed the auction as it had applied for licence extension which is pending with the Department. Vodafone said that it had in December 2012 sought extension of its licence period for Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata circles which are coming up for renewal in November 2014.

Even when these applications for renewal were pending, the DoT went ahead to announce the auction of 900 MHz spectrum, Vodafone said. The extension of auction was sought under clause 4.1 of the licence agreement under which government can extend the period of licence for further 10 years, Vodafone said. It sought a fair and reasonable extension as per the rules.

Vodafone contended that the action of DoT to auction its existing licenses is arbitrary and against the provisions of policy and licence and also disruptive against public interest.