New Delhi, April 11
It could soon be the end of the road for some of the start-up telecom companies, which failed to meet the initial roll-out obligations after getting licences for starting the services on first-come-first-served basis in 2008.

The government has decided to dispatch 17 notices to various telecom firms. While eight termination notices have already been sent, the DoT is in the process of dispatching the remaining nine notices as well. "In all, 17 notices would be issued for delay in rolling out services. Eight have already been sent," DoT Secretary R Chandrasekhar said here. Operators have been given 60 days to respond as to why their licences should not be terminated for their failure to roll out services as per licence conditions.

As per rules, operators are required to roll out services in 90 per cent service areas or circles in metros and 10 per cent in district headquarters within 12 months of the date of award of licences. However, most failed to roll out services even after two years of getting the licence. While Chandrasekhar did not name any operators to whom the termination notices have been issued or would be issued, reports have said that till now Sistema Shyam TeleServices, Aircel and Etisalat DB, Loop Telecom and Videocon have been sent notices for missing the deadline.

Former Telecom Minister A Raja and Shahid Balwa, director of Etisalat DB are already behind bars for “irregularities” in issuing telecom licences in 2008. Earlier, TRAI had said that six mobile phone companies had missed several deadlines for launching commercial services and rather than imposing penalties, their licences should be cancelled.

“This would vacate enormous amount of Spectrum and this can be given to companies that are serious about meeting the schedule,” it said.