New operator Aircel today moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), seeking directions to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to revise bank guarantees submitted by it during the allotment of spectrum.
The TDSAT Bench, headed by its Chairman Justice SB Sinha, issued notice to DoT asking it to file reply by January 30, the next date of hearing.
Other operators - Loop, Etisalat DB, Videocon, Idea -- who were granted licence in 2008 has already knocked the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to get their Performance Bank Guarantees (PBG) and Financial Bank Guarantees (FBG) revised.
Senior advocate Meet Malhotra, representing Aircel, informed the tribunal that the company has completed roll-out obligations in all its licence areas and despite that, its PBG was not revised by DoT.
Aircel has been granted a pan-India licence for all 23 circles. It has deposited Rs 525 crore as FBG and Rs 270 as PBG to DoT at the time of allotment of spectrum.
Aircel's bank guarantees submitted for different circles would start lapsing from March 2012 onwards.
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The company has submitted that it has also deposited 100% liquidated damages imposed by DoT for alleged delay in rollout.
According to the company, as per the licence conditions, DoT should revise its FBG, as it has already paid the AGR for two quarters to DoT as the licence fee.