Uninor shuts telecom operations in Mumbai after SC order on 2G licences

New Delhi: An estimated 1.8 million telephones have gone silent in Mumbai since Sunday after Telecom operator Uninor closed its Mumbai operations from midnight following a Supreme Court order. The apex court had ordered immediate closure of the company after it cancelled 22 licences of Uninor in Februray 2012. Temporary licences, too, have not been permitted by the Supreme Court. "...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," Managing Director of Uninor Sigve Brekke said in a statement.

The Supreme Court in February 2012 cancelled 22 licences of Uninor. The majority stakeholder of the company, Telenor participated in November 2012 auction through new entity Telewings Communications and won spectrum in six circles. Telenor is now in process of transferring business of Uninor in Maharashtra and Goa, Gujarat, UP East, UP West, Bihar and Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh service areas, to Telewings Communications.

Uninor said its operations in these service areas "will continue as fresh spectrum for 20 years has already been secured." Uninor will also sign roaming agreements with other operators to ensure that all Uninor customers get seamless connectivity when travelling to Mumbai. "All Uninor customers from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and other circles will continue to be able to use their Uninor phones in Mumbai," the statement said.