SSTL wins 800 MHz spectrum in eight circles
12 Mar 2013
Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd (SSTL), which provides telecom services under the 'MTS' brand, won spectrum in the 800 MHz band in eight circles.
The circles are Delhi, Kolkata, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh (West) and West Bengal.
The company's operational footprint also includes Rajasthan circle, which was not affected by the Supreme Court's 2 February 2012 order.
''Given the range of variables we have considered and the spectrum cost for 800 Mhz, it was a big challenge to arrive at a core list of eight circles and to bid accordingly. With Rajasthan circle also a part of MTS India's footprint, we would be able to service 40 per cent of country's population, address over 60 per cent of data business potential, safeguard 75 per cent of our current revenues and significantly optimise our losses,'' Vsevolod Rozanov, president and CEO, SSTL said.
''Our go-forward plan includes building an even stronger MTS brand in the country by focusing on our data centric-voice enabled strategy,'' he added.
The spectrum won by SSTL,a joint venture between Russia's Sistema and India's Shyam Group, in eight circles is technology neutral and would be valid for 20 years. The company would have to pay Rs 3,639 crore for the license period.