Vodafone India has filed a petition in Delhi High Court challenging the government's move to put its 900 MHz spectrum on auction despite its applications for a licence extension pending with the department of telecom. Vodafone in December 2012 sought extension of its licences for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles, which are coming up for renewal in November 2014. Vodafone has around 24 MHz spectrum in the 900 MHz band in these three circles. The extension is sought under clause 4.1 of the licence agreement under which the government can extend the period of a licence by ten years at one time if the request is made by the operator during the nineteenth year of the licence period. The spectrum sale is scheduled to start 11 March and will include the unsold GSM spectrum in the 1800 MHz band and airwaves held by existing operators in the 900 MHz band coming for renewal from 2014, including frequencies in the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles. The existing GSM operators will be allowed to retain 2.5 MHz in each circle in the same band after expiry of their licences if they paying the price achieved in the auction.
