The Indian unit of Norway’s Telenor shut down its Mumbai network over the weekend after a court forced operators to cease services in areas where they have no new spectrum.
Uninor told customers that its Mumbai network would close down suddenly a day…
The Indian unit of Norway’s Telenor shut down its Mumbai network over the weekend after a court forced operators to cease services in areas where they have no new spectrum.
Uninor told customers that its Mumbai network would close down suddenly a day after the court order on 15 February, because no temporary licences were available to allow a gradual close.
Through Telenor, the company acquired 20-year licences for only six of India’s 22 circles when frequencies were re-auctioned following the country’s telecoms scandal. These are Maharashtra (including Goa), Gujarat, UP East, UP West, Bihar (including Jharkhand) and Andhra Pradesh. It is negotiating roaming agreements with other operators to ensure its customers can continue to receive a signal in Mumbai.
Sigve Brekke, Uninor’s managing director, said: “We have pursued every alternative possible to continue our operations in Mumbai until the new auction takes place. Now the court has ordered an immediate closure of operations and no temporary license too is available to allow a gradual process. Unfortunately, we have no choice now but to follow the court’s order and close down our network immediately.”
