Vodafone in an petition filed in the High Court on Wednesday has challenged Department of Telecommunications (DoT) move to auction 900 MHz spectrum..

“Vodafone has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging DoT’s action of putting its 900MHz spectrum to auction even when Vodafone’s applications for licence extension are pending with DoT,” the company said in a statement.

Vodafone had in December last year sought extension of its licence period for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles, which are coming up for renewal in November 2014.

Arguing that it is entitled to a fair and reasonable extension of its licence as per mutually agreeable terms Vodafone said that both the policy and licence provide for continuity and this action of DoT to arbitrarily withdraw the 900MHz spectrum is not only against the provisions of policy and licence but also disruptive and against public interest,”

Vodafone said that it has invested more than Rs 50,000 crore in India and remains committed to providing quality and affordable telecom solutions to its almost 150 million customers across the country.

Government in its second round of auction to be held in march  will put to auction auction spectrum in 900 MHz band for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata circles.

Last month Vodafone said that  it should be allotted airwaves without bidding. The company wants its licences to be renewed without going through auction process. Its licences for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata expire in 2014.

As per the New telecom Policy (NTP 2012), the spectrum has to be issued at a market price and through auction. Vodafone wants that the government should extend the licences without going through the auction process.

The Supreme Court, in its Presidential order, had said that all the natural resources (that are to be used for commercial purposes) should be allotted through auction.

Vodafone wants that its licences should be extended through mutual agreement. “Vodafone India upholds “extension of license should be on mutually agreed terms”, it said in a statement expressing its expressing  concern regarding the January  22nd, 2013   guidelines for auction and allotment of spectrum, in 1800/900/800 MHZ bands, it had said in a statement.

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