Bharti Airtel’s mobile license to be renewed in 8 circles this year

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel’s Unified Access Service License (UASL) is expected to be renewed in multiple telecom circles this year following submission of application to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the renewal of its UASL licenses on 11th November 2020 vide application ID UL20200397.

For the unversed, Bharti Airtel currently holds a ‘Unified License (UL) -Access Service Authorization’ license in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kolkata, and Punjab under Bharti Airtel Limited while also holding ‘Unified License (UL) – Access Service Authorization’ license in North East and Rajasthan under Bharti Hexacom Limited.

Bharti Airtel Limited currently has a UASL license in Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Orrisa, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), and West Bengal.

The company’s UASL license will expire in September 2021 in Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), and Uttar Pradesh (West). Post renewal, Bharti Airtel will have a UL license in all telecom circles bar Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Orrisa, and Uttar Pradesh (East), West Bengal.

For the unversed, the Government had after considering the recommendations of TRAI for Unified Licenses (UL) envisaging One Nation – One License decided to grant Unified License (UL) with National Telecom Policy – 2012. Unified Access Service License (UASL) is an ertswhile concept haven been announced on 11th November 2003 prior to the rollout of Unified License (UL) with National Telecom Policy – 2012.

Rival private telecom operator Reliance Jio has a Unified License for all services except GMPCS and VSAT CUG Domestic Data Network Service Provider on a pan-India basis while Vodafone Idea Limited has a Unified License on a pan India basis. State-owned BSNL meanwhile recently got a fresh Unified License (UL) with 20 years validity effective from 29th Feb 2020 across all 22 circles including Mumbai and Delhi circles which were until now served by MTNL.