In a press statement, Idea Cellular has said that the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), has restrained the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) from enforcing a penalty of Rs 2.50 billion imposed on the operator for five overlapping licenses.

The statement added that the interim order has been granted on Idea?s plea against DoT?s demand notice issued to it in June 2011. Prior to this, TDSAT had also ruled against DoT?s demand notice to the operator, wherein a penalty of Rs 0.50 billion was imposed on it for the Punjab circle.

Differences had cropped up between Idea Cellular and DoT over its acquisition of Spice. Idea Cellular and Spice hold separate licences for six of the country?s 22 telecoms zones, whereas existing laws do not permit a single company to own 10 percent or more in two licensees in a telecom zone.