Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL) has requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to revise the calculations of the one-time spectrum usage charges, which has been imposed on the operator for providing services following the cancellation of their 2G licence by the Supreme Court in February 2012. As per DoT, SSTL is required to pay a fee of Rs 6.36 billion.
In a letter to the telecom secretary dated July 8, 2014, SSTL argued that the charges sought from the company should be levied from March 2013 and not from February 2012. The operator claimed that the apex court had provided clarity to the company regarding its operations in the eight circles where it had bid for spectrum, only in March 2013. SSTL added that until January 18, 2013, it was providing services under Supreme Court?s directive, which changed the last date for the cancelled licencees to offer telecom services at least three times in the preceding year.
Meanwhile, SSTL has also requested DoT to consider the final price of spectrum in the March 2013 auctions for calculating the spectrum charges, and not the price discovered in the November 2012 auction, as the operator did not participate in the latter.
