Sistema disappointed with SC decision

Sistema has said that it is very disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision of seizing 122 telecom licenses of 11 telecom operators, including 21 of the 22 licenses held by its subsidiary Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL).

The company has said that it has fully demonstrated its commitment to its Indian operations, and Sistema and SSTL are being penalised for acting in good faith and in reliance on the appropriateness of the procedures established by India's telecommunications authorities.

The company will be challenging this order by pursuing all available legal remedies, while in the meantime Indian operations will remain business as usual for SSTL. It also says that it looks forward to a clear, transparent, and equitable policy decision on these matters by the government of India.

The order of cancellation was issued on the grounds that these licenses were not granted in accordance with required procedures by the Department of Telecommunications. The court has directed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India's top telecom regulatory body, to make fresh recommendations on the granting of 2G licenses and the re-allocation of spectrum via auction within four months by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).