Following over Rs 960 crore (Rs 9.60 billion) package with extra incentive to cellular firms, the Cellular Operators Association of India on Tuesday filed an application in the Supreme Court to withdraw cases against WLL services and unified licence regime.

"The withdrawal was unanimous as applications were filed to withdraw all three appeals pending before the Supreme Court in this regard," COAI said in a statement.

In December last year, the government had announced concessions of over Rs 960 crore annually for the telecom industry with a focus on cellular companies, who in turn had committed to withdraw their case in the Supreme Court against the WLL services by basic operators.

COAI director general T V Ramachandran said: "The industry continues to remain committed towards the growth and development of a healthy and viable cellular mobile industry which would enable all the cellular operators irrespective of technology or size, to participate in the growth programmes of the government for attaining the national teledensity objectives as envisaged under NTP 1999."

Under the financial package, the government had reduced licence fee by two percentage points, from 12, 10 and 8 per cent, across the board and an additional benefit of two percentage points reduction in revenue share granted to first and second cellular licencees for a period of four years.