SC directs TDSAT to decide Idea’s plea on 3G allocation (India)
The Supreme Court has asked the telecom tribunal TDSAT to decide the plea of Aditya Birla group firm Idea Cellular against DoT to issue it 3G spectrum in Punjab where the allocation has been pending because of Idea’s merger with Spice Telecom.
A bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly asked the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to take a decision on the plea of Idea.
As per the bench, it is related with 3G spectrum allocation and it should be dealt with separately.
The TDSAT had stopped hearing after the Attorney General had mentioned before the Tribunal that the Supreme Court had restrained all courts from passing any order on allocation of spectrum.
Following that, Idea had approached the Supreme Court seeking its clarification on the issue.
DoT issues notice to Idea, Etisalat DB for cancelling licenses (India)
The Indian government has issued notices to Aditya Birla group company Idea cellular for Punjab circle and new operator Etisalat DB for Delhi and Mumbai for cancelling their 2G licences for missing roll-out obligations respectively.
According to DoT Secretary R Chandrashekhar, a notice has been issued to Idea Cellular for Punjab circle.
Earlier, a similar notice had been issued to Etisalat DB for cancellation of its licence in Delhi and Mumbai circles.
In Idea’s case, the notice has been issued for not meeting launched obligations and for other violations of licence conditions.
DoT issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Idea Cellular for providing Unified Access Services in nine service areas– Kolkata, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Orissa, North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Tamil Nadu (including Chennai) on January 10,2008.
AT&T in talk with Qualcomm for licence to 4G (India)
Global telecom giant, AT&T is reportedly in talks with chip maker Qualcomm for a possible partnership in India. Qualcomm holds the licence and spectrum to offer fourth generation or 4G wireless broadband services in four telecom circles in India.
AT&T had exited Indian mobile telephony market in 2006, when it divested its stake in favor of its partners — the Tata group and the Aditya Birla Group — and failed in its attempt to gain an entry in 2008.
In the May 2010 auctions conducted by India’s Department of Telecommunications, Qualcomm won spectrum urban circles in New Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala for around US$ 1 billion.
Sanjeev Aga to resign as Idea CEO (India)
Sanjeev Aga head of Aditya Birla group’s telco, Idea Cellular, has decided to resign as chief executive, ahead of his scheduled retirement in 2013.
According to the company’s spokesperson, Aga will be replaced by Idea Director Himanshu Kapania on April 1. According to Aditya Birla group, Aga was stepping down due to personal reasons. Aga will continue to serve in a non-executive position after he retires.
The Idea CEO oversaw a successful IPO in 2007, executed several projects, including building cellular phone networks in western and southern India.
According to Chairman – Kumar Mangalam Birla, under Aga, Idea grew from being a fledgling two-circle operation to a pan-India player, including obtaining licences for 3G operations in several circles.
Aga spent 12 years with the Aditya Birla group, of which the last four years were with Idea Cellular. He had earlier served as head of Aditya Birla Nuvo, a diversified Birla group subsidiary.
The organizational reshuffle in Idea will see Himanshu Kapania being elevated as deputy managing director till March 31. The 50-year graduate from BITS Ranchi and IIM Bangalore will become CEO of Idea Cellular from April 1. He will be succeeded by Amrish Jain as deputy managing director.
Aga’s tenure at Idea was marked by changing regulations, the chaotic and controversial induction of a set of new telecom operators under the aegis of former telecom minister A Raja and the bidding for 3G bandwidth or airwaves. The Idea CEO was among the few to be open about the impact of 3G.
Idea says evaluating investment proposals
Idea Cellular, India’s sixth-biggest mobile phone operator has clarified that it continuously evaluates stake-sale proposals from time to time.
According to the company, as and when a definitive proposal is considered and approved by the company’s board, the company shall forthwith comply with the disclosure obligations under the listing agreement.
Idea was responding to recent media reports that it is in talks with a couple of companies to sell up to 26% stake.
Earlier this month, the company’s international chief said in a statement that Emirates Telecommunication Corp is in view of different options in the Indian market and did not rule out an investment in Idea Cellular.
Idea has a subscriber base of 72.7 million and a market share of little over 15%.
