NEW DELHI —? Mobile phone carriers in India whose permits were revoked last year, including Russia's Sistema, must stop operations immediately unless they have won new rights to airwaves, the country's Supreme Court ruled on Friday according to three lawyers on the case.
The court last year ordered 122 permits held by eight carriers including the Indian units of? Sistema and Norway's Telenor, as well as India-based Idea Cellular and Tata Teleservices to be revoked after a massive scandal over the permits sale process in 2008.
At least three of the firms that had their permits revoked, including the Indian affiliate of Emirates Telecommunication Corp Ltd, have ceased operations since the court order, while others like Telenor and Idea Cellular bought airwaves in the November auction.
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.