Asking government to allow the company to continue operations till next round of spectrum auction, hundreds of Uninor employees and their families haunted with the fear of losing jobs protested in New Delhi.

Two thousand Uninor employees have signed a letter listing their grievances which has been sent to offices of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal.

The letter asked the government to allow the company to continue till the next round of spectrum auction.

The company, a JV Telenor of Norway and Unitech is set to lose 22 telecom licences, following Supreme Court’s verdict cancelling all the 122 spectrum licences.

Uninor Chief Regulatory Officer Pankaj Sharma lamented that no assurance has come from the government with less than 45 days are left for June 2 (the deadline to close operations).

“ Since we are not visible in Delhi, decision makers here feel we do not exist. He added that in telecom business if a company stops functioning, then it will be difficult for it to start over again”, he added.

The apex court in its February 2 verdict had also directed the regulator to complete the process of fresh auction, but the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought 400 days to complete the process.

“This situation will adversely impact the employment and opportunity to earn livelihood of thousands of people who are working for Uninor. Also, we fear that in such a situation, Uninor would not be able to participate in the auction," the letter said.