Vodafone India has sought extensions of its licenses in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata which is expiring in November 2014. The incumbent GSM operator had received licences in 1994 with 20-year tenures. It has 24 MHz spectrum in 900 MHz band, which is the best quality spectrum, across these circles.
In its letter to the Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekhar, Vodafone sought the extension under clause 4.1 of the licence agreement. Under the agreement, the government can extend the period of licence by 10 years at one time if the request is made the operator during the 19th year of the licence period.
In addition to other licence conditions remaining same, Vodafone has asked for continuation of existing spectrum too.
“The 19th year of licence has commenced on 29.11.2012 for Mumbai,” Vodafone said in its letter, adding, “We request you to extend the period of our licence …On terms to be mutually agreed”.
Similar letters were sent for the other two circles, which completed the 19th year on November 30, 2012. ”The decision of the licensor shall be final in regard to the grant of extension,” it said.
The government is working on conducting auction of spectrum in 900 MHz band for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles during this financial year, but it is yet to decide on the final date for auction.
BHAGWANT SINGH December 21, 2012 at 11:17 am
@SANJAY BAFNA SIR I WANT TO ASK THAT AIRCEL WILL STOPPED ITS SREVICES OR NOT IN PUNJAB. I M FED OF AIRCEL NT RELAUNCHING ITS 3G DATA PACKS IN PUNJAB.I CALL CC OF AIRCEL THEY SAID THAT WE R NT WITH DRAWING OUR SERVICES U GET WRONG INFORMATION FROM ANY WEB SITE. BUT ACCORDING TO UR WEBSITE AIRCEL WILL STOP ITS SERVICES IN PUNJAB. PLZ REPY
AND ONE THING MORE BLODDY AIRTEL WHO DONT EVEN BID FOR 3G LICENCE IN PUNJAB WIL LAUNCH OR NT.THEY TALKING ABOUT 4G IN PUNJAB……………………
Esmail December 21, 2012 at 10:43 am
There is no chance that TRAI would approve this request. The year in which the License agreement was framed was 1994 the telecom scene at that time was very different than what it is today. the government has huge hopes of gaining crores of rupees from the 900 MHz refarming and auctioning. After the decision of empowered group of ministers, Vodafone will only be allowed to hold 4.4 MHz of spectrum in 900 MHz band and the rest will be put up for auction, the base price of 900Mhz will be twice that of 1800 Mhz, and Vodafone will have no option but to migrate to 1800 MHz band for voice.
I am looking forward to 3G HSPA+ deployment in 900 Mhz after the refarming. 3G on 900 MHz will be much better than it is on the current 2100 MHz and most 3G phones support Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 which means we wouldn’t even need any change in handsets to enjoy better 3G.
Anshu December 21, 2012 at 6:02 am
Airtel give one more shock!! From today they will give only 650MB internet in rs 98 with validity 21 days.Today i got message from airtel.
customer December 21, 2012 at 6:17 pm
really?..where are you from?
Tharun George December 20, 2012 at 11:15 pm
If new Telecom policy comes, will they be able to use for 4G service like videocon?