The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, has urged Oslo-based telecom major Telenor to participate in the 2G spectrum auction mandated by the Supreme Court.

Efforts are on to complete the auction process at the earliest, Mr Mukherjee assured Norwegian Trade and Industry Minister, Mr Trond Giske, who called on him at North Block today.

The Telenor CEO, Mr Jon Fredrik Baksaas, was also present.

The Telecom Department had earlier indicated to the Finance Ministry that the entire auction process would be completed by January next year.

Mr Mukherjee is understood to have conveyed to the Norwegian Minister that the Government was acting as per the directions of the Supreme Court in the 2G case. The Finance Minister also urged Norway to enhance their investments in India’s infrastructure sectors.

Telenor is facing the brunt of the Supreme Court’s order revoking 122 telecom licences issued without auction since January 2008 to several operators including Unitech Wireless, which is Telenor’s joint venture with Unitech. As many as 22 of the 122 licences were awarded to Uninor.

Mr Giske later told reporters that he had taken up with the Indian Finance Minister the issues related to Telenor’s telecom operations in India. He also said that Norwegian companies are looking for possibilities to invest in Indian infrastructure, but noted that policy certainty was crucial.

Telenor has already invested close to $3 billion in its Indian operations. The Oslo-based telecom major has already expressed intent to drop its Indian joint venture partner Unitech after the Supreme Court revoked the mobile licences. It is now seeking a new local partner.

At today's interaction with the Norwegian delegation, the Indian side was represented by among others the Economic Affairs Secretary, Mr R. Gopalan, and the Telecom Secretary, Mr R. Chandrasekhar.

> krsrivats@thehindu.co.in

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