Govt to allot telecom licences in 2 weeks

The government said on Thursday that in the next two weeks telecom licences would be issued to all  nine firms that were given Letter of Intent on January 10.

Solicitor General of India Goolam E Vahanvati appearing for the Department of Telecommunication on Thursday informed the sectoral tribunal TDSAT that on January 10 the government had  issued 121 LoIs, of which 120 have already complied with its terms and conditions.

However, the DoT said spectrum would be alloted only  after the issuance of licences.

"As such, the question of allocation of spectrum in these cases would arise only after the issuance of licences," said the government in the note submitted to the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

Government's reply came while TDSAT was hearing a case filed by BK Modi-controlled Spice Communications. Spice has challenged DoT's rejection of an application by the telecom operator, in which it sought a pan-India licence, on the ground of networth.

Spice, which operates in Punjab and Karnataka, was alloted LoIs for four additional circles by the DoT.

TDSAT Chairman Justice Arun Kumar has listed the matter for next hearing on February 12.