Mobile phone company, Etisalat DB has advised its subscribers to shift to other service operators in the face of company’s decision to wind up its operations in India following the Supreme Court verdict on February 2 cancelling all the 122 spectrum licences allotted in 2008.The company has 1.6 million customers in India.

Etisalat DB is set to lose 15 spectrum licences after the apex court verdict. Etisalat had paid $900 million in 2008 for a 45% stake in Swan Telecom, later renamed Etisalat DB.

"Cheers Mobile, the brand of Etisalat DB in India, has advised its customers to transfer their mobile number to another operator prior to the scheduled suspension of Cheers Mobile services on 31/03/2012," the telco said in a statement on Friday.

“Customers are encouraged to port out their Cheers number to a network of their choice as soon as possible by following the process prescribed by India’s telecommunications regulator, Trai,” It said.

Before Etisalat, S Tel had asked its customers to move to other service operators. These telcos have asked their subscribers to use mobile number portability or MNP service, the facility that allows users to switch operators but retain their mobile numbers.