NEW DELHI: The department of telecom (DoT) on Friday asked Vodafone India and Idea Cellular to immediately stop offering 3G services in circles where they do not have spectrum.DoT's notice came a day after the Delhi high court set aside its single judge order, which allowed Bharti Airtel to continue providing 3G inter-circle roaming facilities with other service providers. Airtel has moved the Supreme Court against the order of the HC bench.
DoT, in its Friday's notice, has asked Vodafone and Idea to pay a penalty of Rs 550 crore and Rs 300 crore, respectively, for offering this service through intra-circle roaming pacts in areas where they do not have spectrum.
Last month, Bharti Airtel was also asked to stop offering 3G roaming in areas where it did not have spectrum. DoT had imposed a penalty of Rs 350 crore on Airtel on the grounds that the company had violated licence conditions by doing so.
On March 18, Airtel managed to get a stay on DoT order from the Delhi High Court but on Thursday the court vacated the same. Airtel was asked to stop its 3G services in 7 circles in 3 days.
On Friday, the company moved Supreme Court for continuing the 3G services in areas where it does not have spectrum. SC will hear Bharti's plea on Monday. Vodafone and Idea are also expected to move court against the SC order.
During the 2010 spectrum auction, Bharti, Vodafone and Idea had won 3G spectrum in 13, 9 and 11 circles, respectively. Later they got into pacts with each other to offer their subscribers 3G services across the country on roaming. DoT is now clamping down on this practice and operators are fighting to continue their 3G roaming services.
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