Subscribers won’t be affected by SC verdict on 2G case: Govt.

By Kul Bhushan | Updated on 06-Feb-2012

06-Feb-2012

The government has said that it will ensure subscribers are not affected much by the recent Supreme Court decision to quash 122 licenses given to the telecom companies under a scam-tainted 2008 sale. Talking to reporters, Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot said that the government is looking at various ways to protect customers’ interests amid reports that more than 70 million mobile subscribers will be compelled to switch network. The minister pointed out that the SC has given four months of time to wrap up the operations and that will be enough time for subscribers to port out.

“Supreme Court has given four months time. From what I understand subscriber base of companies that have been impacted by 2G verdict is very minuscule. There is mobile number portability for them. So there is not much on consumer per se,” the minister is quoted as saying.

The Department of Telecom (DoT), meanwhile, has said that the telecom operators can continue to provide service till four months from the date of SC verdict on 2G case. A DoT official said that the department currently was looking into the legal implications of the SC verdict.

Last week, the apex court had quashed 122 licenses of telecom operators. As many as 22 licenses of Uninor, 21 of Loop, 21 of Sistema-Shyam, 15 of Etisalat DB, six of S Tel and 21 of Videocon, along with three of the Tatas and nine of Idea Cellular were quashed. Reports had then claimed that nearly 70 million subscribers may be compelled to change their operators. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, however, had suggested the affected subscribers to switch network via the mobile number portability system.

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