SSTL receives first Unified Licence for telecom services in India

Russian conglomerate Sistema controlled SSTL Friday said it has received Unified Licence from the government, which allows liberal use of telecom technologies, for providing latest services.

"We are delighted to get the Unified Licence. This is a positive development and would bring clarity in the operating environment for the Company. We are now looking forward to the allotment of the third carrier (slot) of spectrum that we had won in the March 2013 auctions," Sistema Shyam Teleservices' Chief Executive Officer Dmitry Shukov said in a statement.

The company, which operates under MTS brand name has become "the first telecom operator in the country to be a part of Unified Licensing regime".

The company has permit to operate in 9 circles but its Unified Licences are valid for eight service areas - Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Tamil Nadu, UP (West) and West Bengal.

Rajasthan is another service area where SSTL has operation but it is being run under old telecom licence which is called Unified Access Services Licences.