S Tel meets Telecom Min on security issues

Officials from telecom firm S Tel, which has been asked to stop services due to national security concerns, today met Telecom Minister A Raja to resolve the issue.

S Tel, which offers mobile services in three circles of Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa, was asked to stop operations last week as it is yet to get security clearance from the Intelligence Bureau (IB)

IB nod is a must for any telecom firm to start services, senior officials in the Department of Telecom said, adding the matter was likely to be resolved soon as there was no other concern except pending security clearance.

However, when contacted S Tel said the services to its existing customers are still on and the company is hopeful the matter would be resolved soon.

The company has licences for three more circles of Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam but is yet to start services there.

Bahrain's Batelco, which has 42.7 per cent stake in S Tel, has entered into a partnership with Islamic investment bank Global Banking Corporation (GBC), which has acquired  11 per cent stake in S Tel for $50 million.

GBC buying 11 per cent in S Tel will indirectly raise Batelco's stake in S Stel by 6.3 per cent.