TDSAT dismisses Vodafone's plea challenging liberalistion guidelines

Telecom tribunal TDSAT today dismissed Vodafone's plea challenging the government's guidelines on the liberalisation of 2G spectrum in the auctions to take place following the Supreme Court's cancellation of 122 licences.

However, the TDSAT headed by its chairman justice S B Sinha said that the telco could approach it again following the finalisation of guidelines.

Through a 3 July circular, the Department of Telecom (DoT) had issued guidelines that allowed existing service providers to pay the amount discovered in spectrum auction for use of airwaves in any technology for provision of telecom services.

According to the court, the service providers may be allowed the use of their existing 1800 MHz 2G spectrum towards a liberalised usage for a 20-year period on payment of the auction-determined price.

Under a liberalised spectrum, airwaves can be used for provision of any service within the scope of respective service licences, using any technology.

Vodafone, in its petition had called on TDSAT to "strike down and quash the impugned decision of the DoT".