Uninor to close telecom ops in Mumbai from midnight

Move follows Supreme Court order for immediate shut down of network, customers from other circles can continue using Uninor phones in Mumbai

Telecom operator Uninor said it will close its Mumbai operations from midnight following the Supreme Court (SC) order.

"...The Court has ordered an immediate closure of operations and no temporary license too is available to allow a gradual process. Unfortunately, we have no choice now but to follow the Court's order and close down our network immediately," Managing Director of Uninor Sigve Brekke said in a statement.

The Supreme Court in February 2012 cancelled 22 licences of Uninor. The majority stakeholder of the company, Telenor participated in November 2012 auction through new entity Telewings Communications and won spectrum in six circles.

Telenor is now in process of transferring business of Uninor in Maharashtra and Goa, Gujarat, UP East, UP West, Bihar and Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh service areas, to Telewings Communications.

Uninor said its operations in these service areas "will continue as fresh spectrum for 20 years has already been secured."

Uninor will also sign roaming agreements with other operators to ensure that all Uninor customers get seamless connectivity when travelling to Mumbai.

"All Uninor customers from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and other circles will continue to be able to use their Uninor phones in Mumbai," the statement said.