To protect mobile users’ interest in the backdrop of cancellation of 2G licences by the Supreme Court, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is likely to come out with fresh guidelines on the business modalities to be followed by the companies that have lost licences.

As the companies, which have invested billions of dollars in infrastructure, are set to lose the existing licences in four months, TRAI is examining issues such as selling recharge coupons and fresh connections by these service providers, sources close to the development said.

“This is something that is being examined right now. TRAI is likely to take a decision on these issues very shortly and come out with a set of instructions,” they told PTI.

Last week, the apex court had ordered cancellation of 122 2G licences terming them as illegal. As per the court order, the existing licences are valid for only four months.

The companies, which are set to lose on account of cancellation of the licences, are Uninor (joint venture between Unitech and Telenor of Norway), Loop Telecom, Sistema Shyam (joint venture between Shyam Group and Sistema of Russia), Etisalat DB (joint venture between Swan and Etisalat of UAE), S Tel, Videocon, Tatas and Idea.

Though consumers have the option of portability to other service providers, TRAI is of the opinion that many customers are not aware of the fact that the existing provider cannot extend the service if it fails to obtain licence in the fresh 2G auction, the sources said.

“We have to understand one thing that people (companies) are doing their business. On one hand, they have a right to do their business, but there is also the question of consumer interest,” the sources said.

According to a senior official of Uninor, as of now there is no restriction by TRAI on their business activities. Uninor has added over 3 lakh customers in the last one week after the Supreme Court verdict, Uninor Managing Director, Mr Sigve Brekke, had recently said at a press briefing.

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