The department of telecommunications (DoT) has asked the telecom service providers like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular to stop providing 3G services in those circles (service areas) where they do not have licences.
 
Without naming any company, the telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar, these companies have been issued show-cause and advisory notices to stop such operations.

Last year in December, the Government had issued notices to leading telecom firms asking them to stop their 3G roaming agreements as the pacts were illegal.

Subsequently these operators had challenged the directive in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
 
The sectoral tribunal had given a split verdict in the 3G intra circle roaming case in which the operators had challenged government’s directive to stop offering 3G services beyond their licensed zones through mutual roaming pacts.