Sistema Shyam receives notice from DoT

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) today sent notices to Sistema Shyam Teleservices for delay in rolling out services in three circles — Kerala, West Bengal and Assam. It asked the company to explain in 60 days why its licences in the three circles should not be cancelled, as it failed to meet roll-out obligations.

“We have received the communication from DoT on the issue of roll-out obligations for three circles, and will be replying to DoT on the same. Additionally, we would like to add that as of now, we have over 1.5 million customers in these states and had launched our services in these states way back in 2009,” said a spokesperson at Sistema Shyam Teleservices.

Late last year, DoT decided to crack down on operators who had not rolled out services on time. According to licence conditions, operators should roll out 10 per cent of the network in one year and 50 per cent in three years.

The three-year period for companies, which received licences in 2008, expired this January. A DoT official had earlier said these companies may even be asked to pay penalty, if they were found to have not rolled out services. The companies that were issued licences in 2008 include Unitech Wireless, Loop Mobile, Datacom, Etisalat DB and STel.

Last month, when DoT issued show-cause notices for the termination of 85 licences to 13 companies named in the 2G scam, it had said it will send notices to those operators who had not rolled out services on time.