Uninor will close down its network in Mumbai on February 16, following the Supreme Court order that all operators who did not win spectrum in the previous auction should close down services immediately.
Uninor is bound by law to comply with the Supreme Court order and will therefore have to close down its mobile network immediately, it said in a statement.
“The company hereby advises all its customers and business partners that for now the Uninor network in Mumbai will not be available after midnight on February 16, 2013,” it added. Further, no temporary license too is available such that services can be closed down in an orderly manner and customers are able to port out.
Operations in the six circles - Maharashtra and Goa, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), Bihar and Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh will continue as fresh spectrum for 20 years has already been secured. Telenor has won fresh spectrum for the next 20 years in these six circles.
Uninor will also sign roaming agreements with other operators to ensure that all Uninor customers get seamless connectivity when travelling to Mumbai.
“We have pursued every alternative possible to continue our operations in Mumbai until the new auction takes place. Now the Court has ordered an immediate closure of operations and no temporary license too is available to allow a gradual process. Unfortunately, we have no choice now but to follow the Court’s order and close down our network immediately,” said Uninor Managing Director Sigve Brekke said.
“I deeply regret the consequences this has for our customers, employees and business partners – each of whom have been a part of a remarkable fight back last year. We will now make every effort, within the limitations of this Court order, to minimise the negative impact on all affected by this development,” Brekke added.
