Tata Teleservices and Aircel had also forged 3G roaming agreements, but called off the alliance after the DoT began investigating these arrangements. However the DoT also issued notices to these two companies for violating licence norms, executives with the mobile companies confirmed. All the operators are expected to challenge the DoT's notice in court in the week starting 31 December. The companies have 60 days to respond, and the notice adds that the government may cancel their 3G permits if the government is not satisfied with the replies furnished.
The DoT in its latest notice to Vodafone India, Idea Cellular, Aircel and Tata Teleservices issued has said that the split opinion of the TDSAT only confirms the validity of the department's letter to mobile phone companies in December 2011 directing that roaming pacts to be scrapped. Post the tribunal's split verdict, the additional solicitor general of India, in his opinion had said that fresh show-cause notices could be issued for imposition of penalty, including cancellation of licence. Further, revenue generated through unfair means can be recovered through separate showcause notices, the opinion added. Vodafone India and Tata Teleservices executives confirmed their respective companies had received the show-cause notices. The Idea Cellular spokesperson could not be reached for a comment.
