Sistema Shyam has asked the Department of Telecom to extend the deadline for submission of application for the upcoming spectrum auction. DoT has set October 19 as the last date. The deadline applies to both CDMA and GSM players even though the auction for CDMA spectrum will be held after the GSM auction.
Sistema Shyam has reasoned that since the auction for CDMA spectrum will be held later, its deadline could be extended. The company is looking to decide on the participation after the Supreme Court delivers judgment on a curative petition.
The company had filed the petition challenging an earlier decision to cancel all licences issued on or after January 10, 2008. Sistema Shyam has argued that its licences should not be cancelled because it had applied for CDMA spectrum, for which there were no other takers. The company believes that it has become collateral damage due to the allegations of impropriety in awarding GSM spectrum.
If the Supreme Court upholds the curative petition then Sistema Shyam can continue to hold their CDMA spectrum. In such a scenario the company may not participate in the auction. The company has told DoT that it wants clarity on this petition before it can decide whether or not to participate in the auction for 800-Mhz frequency band.