Vodafone India has requested R. Chandrashekhar, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to extend its licences in the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles, say news reports.
Vodafone India?s licences in the three circles are coming up for renewal in 2014. The operator has sought the extension under clause 4.1 of the licence agreement wherein the government can extend the licence period by 10 years if the request is made by an operator during the 19th year of the licence period.
Writing to Chandrashekhar, the operator has stated that the 19th year of licence for the Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata circles commenced on November 29, 2012 and November 30, 2012, respectively.
The operator has asked DoT to extend its licences on mutually agreed terms. However, the decision of the licensor shall be final with regard to the grant of extension.
The government plans to conduct a spectrum auction in 900 MHz band for the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles in 2013. In the forthcoming auctions, the incumbent GSM operators will be allowed to retain 2.5 MHz of spectrum in each circle in the same band after paying a market determined price even after the expiry of their licences.
Vodafone India has about 24 MHz of spectrum in the 900 MHz band in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
