The Supreme Court has extended the deadline for existing operators of 2G spectrum to carry out operations from January 18 to February 4 and has asked the Centre to spell out the price to be paid for continuing with their service after cancellation of licences last year.

“We want to know what the price is. Just put it in a sealed envelope — what is the amount to be paid (by the existing operators of 2G) after our order of February 2, 2012,” a Bench, comprising Justices G.S. Singhvi and K.S. Radhakrishnan, said on Monday. It posted the matter for hearing on February 4.

“The existing operators are allowed to continue operations till the next date of hearing,” the Bench further said.

The apex court had, on February 2 last year, cancelled 122 licences for the 2G spectrum and had directed the Department of Telecom to hold fresh auction for them within four months, which has been extended by interim orders from time to time.

The Bench asked DoT’s counsel and senior advocate P.P. Rao to collect information about the telecom companies that emerged as successful bidders in the first round of auction that took place on November 12 to 14 last year and what the proposed reserve or base price for the second round of auction to be held on March 11 would be.

It also wanted to know from the DoT as to how many operators, whose licences were cancelled by it on February 2, 2012, participated in the fresh auction and how many of them continued with their operations.

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