Telcos asked to maintain quality of service

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked operators whose licences have been cancelled to ensure quality of service for the period they will be in operation, Parliament was informed today.

The Supreme Court in its February 2 order had cancelled 122 mobile licences awarded in 2008 during A Raja's term as the Telecom Minister in 2008. It had termed them illegal and had allowed the impugned licences to run for four months after which the cancellation order will become operative.

"The Trai Has issued instructions to all licencees, whose licences have been ordered to be quashed by the Supreme Court, to ensure quality of service during the period of four months, as per licence conditions," Minister of State for Communication and IT Milind Deora said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The apex court had also asked Trai to give recommendations for spectrum auction within one month and the government to conduct fresh auctions within four months.

In line with the Supreme Court order, Trai on March 7 issued a consultation paper on 'Auction of Spectrum'.

"As per the directions of SC, the government on February 3, 2012, has sought the recommendations of Trai and subsequently Trai on March 7, 2012, has issued a consultation paper on 'Auction of Spectrum'," Deora said.

The government, however, has filed an application in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking clarification on the order and has given a time-line of 400 days to complete the auction process.

"The government has filed an IA [Interlocutory Application]...Placing on record the proposed auction schedule which may take at least 400 days and indicating that there will be a time gap between cessation of licences as per SC order and completion of auction," Deora said.