DoT to send notice for 20 more licence cancellation to telcos

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will soon send notice for 20 more licence cancellation of telecom service providers for not meeting rollout obligation norms.

"Two notices had been issued and 20 more notices will be issued soon for cancellation of licences for not meeting roll-out obligations," R Chandrashekhar, secretary, DoT told reporters.

Every telecom service provider has seperate licence for a service area called telecom circle. A Telecom circle can be equivalent to size of a state in the country.

DoT in second week of March issued notice for licence cancellation to Etisalat DB and Idea Cellular on ground of failing to meet roll out obligation.

Etisalat DB was sent notice for cancellation of licence in Mumbai and Delhi circle and Idea Cellular for Punjab circle on same ground.

Notice sent to Etisalat for cancellation of the licence is as per the recommendations of telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which had asked the government to impose penalty and cancel as many as 69 new licences for not rolling out services within time frame.

Chandrashkehar, however, did not mention name of companies to whom these 20 notices will be sent and action on other licences as recommended by TRAI for cancellation.