The telecom companies like Tata Teleservices, Aircel, and Idea Cellular may face some serious troubles, if the proposal of a three year lock-in-period on the sale of equity in new licensee companies, is implemented. The proposal states that no firm will be allowed to sell equity within a time-span of three years.

Tata Teleservices, which announced its plans to sell its 26 percent stake to a Japanese company for around $2.7 billion, has recently shot a letter to the Department of Telecommunications seeking clarification on this issue.

Telecom licenses are awarded on “circle” basis and any decision regarding lock-in-period will undoubtedly influence the strategies of the existing telecom operators. Out of 144 licenses the DoT has awarded since December 2006, Idea has licence for 10 circles, Tata Teleservices in three circles, Aircel and Dishnet in seven circles and Spice in four circles. Among the new entrants are Swan, Unitech, Datacom, Shyam and Local Loop.

Confirming that the lock-in-period has already been approved by the Telecom Commission, Nripendra Misra, chairman of TRAI said that it will take about 45 days for the authority to complete its process of consultation.