Aircel has approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to request the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide it with additional spectrum, say news reports.

The operator is looking to bag 1.8 MHz of spectrum in Delhi, Mumbai and Rajasthan.  In 2007, Aircel obtained 4.4 MHz of start-up spectrum bundled with its licence and it was entitled to get more as per the subscriber-linked criteria prescribed by DoT.

However, recently, a panel of ministers headed by Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Finance had decided to put on the block upto 13.75 MHz of spectrum in the 1,800 MHz band in the upcoming auctions.

In this context, Aircel, in its petition, has asked TDSAT to award it damages on account of DoT withholding the spectrum due to it.

The matter is set to be heard on July 3, 2012.