'Firms using 2G after Feb verdict may have to pay'

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said telecom operators whose licences were cancelled by it but continued to operate due to delay on government’s part to hold fresh auction of 2G spectrum, might have to pay for using the radiowaves on the basis of current price.

A bench of G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said it would consider asking the operators to pay for using spectrum, as they continued to operate because of delay in auction by the Centre. “Those licensees which were operating because of delay in auction must pay. They could not have operated, if auction would have happened,” the bench said. The court, however, did not pass any order, and said that it would consider the issue at the next date of hearing.

 

The apex court had on February 2, while cancelling 122 2G licences, allowed them to run for four months after which the order was to become operative. The date expired on May 2 but the SC allowed the operators to continue providing services as the Centre failed to put the spectrum on auction which was done only on November 12.