Hope Trai will take our views on 2G spectrum auction: Uninor

Mobile services provider Uninor, which has been hit by the Supreme Court verdict cancelling 122 telecom licences, today expressed the hope that sectoral regulator Trai will consider its views before finalising guidelines for the 2G spectrum auction.

Sigve Brekke, Managing Director of Unitech Wireless that owns Uninor brand, said the service provider has already conveyed its views to Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and Communications Minister Kapil Sibal that the auction should be limited to new players instead of allowing existing players to participate.

"We assume that the regulator is going to follow the spirit of the increased competition. We also assume that the regulator will look at finding a way which is absolutely fair and allows business to prosper," Brekke said in a press briefing though video conference.

Unitech Wireless Ltd is a JV between Norway-based Telenor Group and India's Unitech Ltd.

Last week, the apex court cancelled licences of all the new GSM service providers, including Unitech Wireless, awarded in 2008. Following the court's directive, Trai has already started the consultation process for finalising recommendations for awarding new licences and spectrum through auction.

The bidding should be limited to new service providers and incumbent operators should not be allowed to participate in the process, Brekke said.

"We trust the regulator will balance the views of the Government and the industry. It is regulator's responsibility and it should see that the regulation is in favour of the customer, not in favour of the industry and not in favour of the Government."

Brekke said they came to India on the Government's invitation. The Indian Government wanted to increase competition in the telecom sector so that the customers here could benefit.

According to him, the Supreme Court ruling, which was given in the case related to 2G spectrum allocation scam, has not impacted Uninor's day-to-day business in India.

Trai has released a pre-consultation paper on `Allocation of Spectrum in 2G band in 22 Service Areas by auction' for comments of the stakeholders.