Continue ops till licence valid: Trai to Etisalat, S Tel

Also asks the two operators to furnish it with the compliance report within three days

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today directed Etisalat DB and S Tel, who have announced closure of their operations, to comply with guidelines and continue providing services till licences are operational.

The regulator has also asked the two operators to furnish it with the compliance report within a period of three days.

"...Comply with all the provisions of the unified access service licence, ensure connectivity of service to its subscribers and maintain the quality of service till  licence is operational," Trai said in directions issued to both the companies separately.

Etisalat DB and S Tel had informed Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in March about closure of their business in India following the Supreme Court order.

 

The apex court in February had ordered cancellation of 122 licences, including that of Etisalat DB and S Tel, with effect from four months after the judgement.

While Etisalat DB said it does not intend to continue its operations after March 31, S Tel said its network infrastructure service providers have disconnected company's network.

MITS, a mobile number portability service provider, informed Trai on March 14 that S Tel has disconnected its link with MNP clearing house from February 27 which is hampering call completion and number portability of S Tel's customers.

As per the licence conditions, telecom companies should ensure continuity of services to customers unless licence is terminated or suspended by the licensor [government] for any reason whatsoever, Trai said.

The regulator further said a company can surrender licence by giving a notice of at least 60 calendar days in advance and in that case it shall also notify its customers about withdrawal of service by sending a 30-day calendar notice to all of them.

As per the intimation sent to DoT by both companies, sixty-day period of S Tel and EDB ends in second and third week of May, respectively.