Bharti Airtel applies for Unified Licence in Delhi, Kolkata

Telecom major Bharti Airtel has submitted its final application for new telecom permits, known as Unified Licences, in Delhi and Kolkata service areas.

Airtel's licences in Delhi and Kolkata are expiring in November this year. A Unified Licence would be required to continue operations in each service area.

Not bundled with the spectrum, this licence enables a firm to provide technology neutral telecom services.

"Airtel submitted application last month for Unified Licence in Delhi and Kolkata," an official source told PTI.

Bharti Airtel sources confirmed the development.

The company in February purchased spectrum worth Rs 8,721.17 crore in these two service areas.

The Department of Telecom had asked Airtel to pay Rs 2.3 crore as one time entry fee for Unified Licence, Rs 12 crore performance bank guarantee and Rs 4.2 crore financial bank guarantee for these two service areas.

Telecom operator Vodafone will have to sell 4.4 per cent indirect stake Bharti Group firm after the new licence becomes effective. Under new licensing regime, telecom operators are barred to hold any direct or indirect stake in competition.

Vodafone and Airtel currently operate on Unified Access Service Licence (UASL), or 2G licences, under which telecom companies are permitted to hold up to 9.9 per cent stake in other firms.

Vodafone will have to divest its stake by November 2015.