The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has dismissed the Department of Telecommunications? (DoT) order that imposed a penalty on Idea Cellular for failing to roll out services on time.
Prior to this, in January 2011, TDSAT had directed Idea Cellular to pay 60 per cent of the penalty imposed by DoT.
DoT had sent notices to several operators who obtained 2G licences bundled with start-up spectrum in 2008 as they had not launched services in various circles.
As per the conditions of the Unified Access Service Licence (UASL), telecom companies are required to roll out their networks within a year from the date of allocation of spectrum.
According to the agreement, in case new licencees fail to roll out services within the stipulated period, DoT can recover liquidation damages.
This was challenged by Idea Cellular in the TDSAT. Idea Cellular had approached TDSAT for the
