DoT rejects Vodafone’s proposal for license extension

In what could be a blow to Vodafone, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has rejected the telecom operator’s plea for extension of license period in seven circles post their expiry in December 2015.

The department has suggested Vodafone to transform its permits into unified licenses and purchase spectrum in the auction slated to be held later this year.

Vodafone had applied for renewal of its licenses in seven circles – Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP (East), Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Rajasthan – for another 10 years. DoT has said, “Circumstances have materially changed” since the original licenses were granted in 1995 and there is no immediate need for an extension of the licenses.”

Earlier, the company had requested for spectrum as its 900 MHz mobile airwaves were getting expired, just before the spectrum auction in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata but the government rejected its demand even then which prompted Vodafone to compete for spectrum acquisition.