New Delhi, Mar 24: Cellular operators have asked government to postpone the bidding process in the vacant cellular slots of circles such as Orissa, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir, amongst others, for six to eight weeks till there is clarity in business environment in the wake of the ongoing WLL (wireless local loop) controversy. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written to dot seeking postponement of bidding process till telecom tribunal (TTSAT) takes a decision on WLL, a move which the operators say would help before bidding for the new circles. According to COAI sources, a decision by TTSAT would bring a clarity in the business environment supply with relation to business potential of new circles and payback assessment. It maybe recalled that DoT had put for rebidding cellular slots in about seven circles including that of Bihar besides the others.

Bureau Report